{"id":23021,"date":"2026-01-28T17:05:36","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T15:05:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jhb-webdevelopers\/channelafrica\/news\/who-issues-first-ever-global-guidance-on-healthy-school-food\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T16:33:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T14:33:54","slug":"who-issues-first-ever-global-guidance-on-healthy-school-food","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/news\/who-issues-first-ever-global-guidance-on-healthy-school-food\/","title":{"rendered":"WHO issues first-ever global guidance on healthy school food"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The WHO warned that early dietary habits have long\u2011term implications for children\u2019s health and learning outcomes. The new evidence\u2011based guidance outlines policies and interventions that can help shape healthier food environments for the millions of children who spend a significant portion of their day in school.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cThe food children eat at school, and the environments that shape what they eat, can have a profound impact on their learning, and lifelong consequences for their health and well-being,\u201d said WHO Director\u2011General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WHO warned that overweight and obesity among children continue to climb globally, even as undernutrition remains a persistent challenge. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For the first time, worldwide child obesity cases surpassed underweight cases in 2025. Around one in 10 school\u2011aged children and adolescents were living with obesity last year, while one in five, equivalent to 391 million, were overweight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A recent WHO study also found that diabetes now affects more than 800 million people worldwide, and one in six pregnancies. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As of October 2025, 104 countries had implemented some form of healthy school food policy<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, yet<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> only 48 had introduced measures restricting the marketing of foods high in sugar, salt or unhealthy fats.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The WHO stressed that the food environment in schools plays a decisive role in shaping children\u2019s future dietary patterns. \u201cGetting nutrition right at school is critical for preventing disease later in life and creating healthier adults,\u201d said Tedros.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The new recommendations encourage schools to boost the availability of healthy foods while reducing access to unhealthy options. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Key guidance includes:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Limiting free sugars, saturated fats and sodium<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Increasing whole grains, fruits, nuts and pulses<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Providing healthier beverages<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Introducing \u201cnudging interventions\u201d such as improved placement, packaging or portion sizes to encourage healthier choices<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">These <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">behavioural\u2011science<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> approaches are designed to make nutritious foods the easier<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">more appealing option for children.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> The WHO said it will support governments with technical assistance, knowledge\u2011sharing and collaborative initiatives to help implement the new standards.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8211;UN\/ChannelAfrica&#8211;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":23022,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"news-type":[78,44,26],"class_list":["post-23021","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-type-featured","news-type-finance","news-type-general_news","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"The World Health Organisation (WHO) has, for the first time, issued global recommendations aimed at improving the nutritional quality of food provided in schools. ","published_date":null,"news_description":"The World Health Organisation (WHO) has, for the first time, issued global recommendations aimed at improving the nutritional quality of food provided in schools. 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