WHO: New Guidelines for Healthy School Food Environments
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released new global guidelines focused on creating healthier food environments in schools. This marks the first time the WHO is advising countries to take a “whole-school” approach, ensuring that all food and beverages available to students are nutritious and support healthy habits.
A Growing Global Challenge
Rising rates of childhood overweight and obesity, alongside ongoing undernutrition, present a “double burden of malnutrition” globally. The WHO reports that in 2025, approximately one in ten school-aged children and adolescents – a total of 188 million – are projected to live with obesity, exceeding the number of children who are underweight for the first time.
The Impact of School Nutrition
According to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, “The 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.” The WHO emphasizes that establishing healthy dietary practices early in life is crucial, given the significant amount of time children spend in school.
Currently, an estimated 466 million children globally receive school meals, but information regarding the nutritional quality of these meals remains limited.
WHO Recommendations
The new guideline recommends that schools prioritize improving food provision to encourage the consumption of healthy foods and beverages. Specifically, the WHO makes two key recommendations:
- Setting standards or rules to increase access to, and consumption of, healthy options while limiting unhealthy foods.
- Implementing “nudging” interventions – changes to the placement, presentation, or price of food – to encourage healthier choices.
The WHO stresses that policies must be accompanied by robust monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to ensure consistent implementation. While almost three-quarters of the 104 Member States with school food policies include mandatory nutritional criteria, only 48 countries have policies restricting the marketing of foods high in sugar, salt, or unhealthy fats.
Looking Ahead
The guideline is intended to support action at both national and local levels, acknowledging the important role of subnational and city authorities. The WHO plans to provide technical assistance, knowledge-sharing, and collaborations to help Member States adapt and implement the guideline. A global webinar was scheduled for January 27, 2026, to mark the launch.
It is possible that, following the release of these guidelines, more countries may develop or strengthen their school food policies. Analysts expect increased focus on restricting the marketing of unhealthy foods to children within school environments. A possible next step could be the development of standardized metrics for evaluating the nutritional quality of school meals globally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a “whole-school” approach to school food?
A “whole-school” approach, as advised by the WHO, ensures that food and beverages provided in schools and available throughout the broader school environment are healthy and nutritious.
What are “nudging” interventions?
“Nudging” interventions involve making subtle changes to the way food options are presented – such as placement, presentation, or price – to encourage children to select and consume healthier choices.
How many countries currently have policies on healthy school food?
As of October 2025, 104 Member States had policies on healthy school food, according to the WHO Global database on the Implementation of Food and Nutrition Action (GIFNA).
How might changes to school food environments impact long-term health outcomes for students?