Experts warn about school canteens.

It has been stated that the products sold in school canteens may not be healthy for students, while experts emphasize that the products sold in school canteens should be carefully selected and that these environments should be managed in compliance with cleanliness and hygiene rules.

Medical Park Karadeniz Hospital Chest Diseases Specialist Prof. Dr. Tevfik Özlü, who made a statement on the subject, said, “The issue of school canteens is very important. Because our students who shop here, our children, may not be able to protect their rights and make sufficiently correct decisions about healthy choices as adults can. Therefore, the options we provide to them must be healthy, and school canteens should be managed with a service mentality that meets the needs of students in schools rather than focusing on making more money. In this regard, both school administrations and families, as well as the Ministry of National Education, should conduct inspections. Because our children can sometimes buy illnesses from school canteens. For this reason, we need to ensure that the products sold are healthy. Firstly, it is important that all products are stored and transported under suitable conditions, and that their expiration dates have not passed. Especially, the sale of open food should be minimized as much as possible, and the people working there must comply with the hygiene and cleanliness rules stated in the regulations. The products sold here should also be supportive of children’s health. Because children may choose products that pose risks to their health based on promotions, packaging, or advertisements. It is important that foods are planned to meet their daily nutritional needs, particularly protein-rich snacks or main meals for children,” he said.

Emphasizing the importance of cooperation between families and schools, Özlü stated, “In this respect, both the school management and the school-family cooperation are important to be careful. Canteens are indeed a very important need. We must send our children to school with confidence and be sure of what they eat and how they are nourished there.”