Schools may consider banning fast food from their cafeterias, as suggested by the State Duma.
In the Voronezh region of Russia, a significant shift in school nutrition is on the horizon. Ksenia Goryacheva, the first deputy head of the State Duma committee on science and higher education, has proposed a comprehensive approach to school nutrition, emphasising the importance of educational work to accompany these changes.
Goryacheva believes that schools can play a crucial role in forming sustainable habits for healthy eating, which she believes will have a lasting impact for decades to come. She argues that investments in health through changes in school nutrition will begin working today.
This push for healthier school meals comes in response to earlier concerns about childhood obesity, a problem linked to food habits in families and educational institutions. Goryacheva believes that the current approach to school nutrition needs to be re-evaluated, with a focus on excluding aggressively unhealthy products.
From September 1, schools in Bobrovsky, Buturlinsky, and Novohopersky districts will ban starchy snacks such as pizza, rolls, cakes, and similar items from their cafeterias. In their place, healthy snacks and salads will be introduced. Goryacheva also emphasises the need for these options to be not only healthy but also tasty.
However, it's important to note that, as of August 2025, there is no publicly available or widely reported evidence that Russia has enacted notable policies or initiatives banning fast food in school cafeterias or actively promoting healthy food options in schools on a national level. This suggests that the changes in the Voronezh region may be a local initiative rather than a nationwide policy.
Interestingly, Alexei Kurinnoy, the deputy head of the State Duma committee on health protection, does not share the same concerns about sausages and bread in school canteens. This could indicate a difference in opinion among Russian policymakers regarding the importance of school nutrition reform.
As this initiative unfolds, it will be interesting to see how these changes impact the health of students in the Voronezh region and whether it serves as a catalyst for broader reforms in school nutrition across Russia.
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