Romania’s only school meals program with national coverage could be improved after a bill was submitted to the Senate by parliamentarian Catalin Tenice. The project envisages an increase in the number of portions of dairy products, bakery products, fruits and vegetables that schoolchildren will receive.

The proposed changes aim to return to the distribution of 5 children’s portions per week of milk and milk products, respectively fruits and vegetables, fresh bakery products consumed within a maximum of 24 hours after production, a variety of products supplied in a distribution chain accessible to micro-enterprises and local producers, according to the initiator.

“For some parents in Romania, the cone and small package of milk their children receive is sometimes the most compelling reason to send them to school and kindergarten. And because in our country every fifth child in the family goes to bed hungry. For this reason, school feeding programs were created at the European level to ensure the growth and development of those children whose parents do not have the means to provide them with a full meal,” said the press release sent to HotNews by MP Cătălin Teniță. ro.

Proposed changes:

– Milk and dairy products, 5 portions per week per child (from 3 portions at the moment);

– Fruits and vegetables, 5 portions per week per child (from 2 portions at the moment);

– Corn or other diverse and fresh bakery products, consumed within 24 hours after production;

– Additional appropriations for provision of alternative products intended for children with lactose or gluten intolerance;

– Tendering rules in the program should be formulated in such a way as to allow bakeries and small local producers with less distribution potential to submit proposals;

– all products must be provided with a distribution chain accessible to local producers;

– Educational activities on healthy eating habits that bring children closer to the environment and concepts such as rural agronomy and avoiding food waste;

– Program monitoring in open data mode.

Project and explanatory note:

1. The text of the draft law

2. Justification