The Brazilian government is making significant strides toward enhancing student nutrition by reducing the percentage of processed and ultraprocessed foods allowed in public school meals. This initiative, revealed during the 6th National Meeting of the National School Feeding Program (PNAE), aims to lower the permitted amount of such foods from 20% to 15% starting in 2025, with plans to decrease it even more to 10% by 2026.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Minister of Education Camilo Santana announced the news during the event held at the International Convention Center of Brazil (CICB) in Brasília. "We know the impacts of these foods on children's nutrition, the obesity problem we have today; so, this is a confrontation against it. PNAE wants to guarantee quality food," stated Santana at the meeting.
Currently, the guidelines established by the PNAE allow schools to serve up to 20% of their meals as processed foods. By reducing this percentage, the government hopes to improve the quality of school meals significantly, focusing on offering healthier and more balanced options for the 40 million students who benefit from this program.
Not only does this change aim to provide more nutritious meals, but it also addresses rising obesity rates among Brazilian children. According to the Ministry of Health's 2023 Food and Nutritional Surveillance System, one in seven Brazilian children is classified as overweight or obese, with figures standing at 14.2% for children under five. The seriousness of this public health issue emphasizes the necessity for reform.
"No one can guarantee a good school and quality learning without good nutrition for children, adolescents, and youth. This is fundamental!" Santana added, reinforcing the connection between proper nutrition and effective education. President Lula echoed these sentiments, emphasizing, "Investing in school food is because no one can study on an empty stomach. Those who have never been hungry don’t know what true learning incapacity is due to hunger."
The measures introduced will involve regulatory changes to Resolution No. 6/2020, which governs the PNAE's guidelines. A notable aspect of this overhaul is the commitment to purchase at least 30% of food supplies from family agriculture, prioritizing groups such as women from agrarian reform settlements and Indigenous and Quilombola communities.
Fernanda Pacobahyba, president of the FNDE (National Fund for Education Development), commented on the importance of integrating regional food diversity and local agricultural practices within the school feeding program. "The program, which is already huge, can be even greater by respecting regional peculiarities, our food culture diversity, and federal balancing," she said.
To support the implementation of these changes, the PNAE will launch the 'Alimentação Nota 10' project, aiming to provide training for school meal staff, including cooks and nutritionists. The initiative will set aside R$ 4.7 million for this program, focusing on nutritional security, students’ rights to dignity, and environmental sustainability.
Highlighting the educative aspect of nutrition, the PNAE continues to play a pivotal role not only as a food security initiative but as part of Brazil's educational framework. The program, which accommodates nearly 150,000 schools and provides around 10 billion meals annually, focuses on fostering healthy habits among students, contributing to their overall psychosocial development and academic performance.
Looking forward, the FNDE, through its supportive initiatives, aims to host discussions and share solutions for improving school nutrition across Brazil. Notably, Brazil’s leadership role within the Global School Feeding Coalition positions the nation as a proactive participant on the international stage, fostering cooperation on safe and nutritious school meals worldwide.
The upcoming 2nd Global School Food Summit scheduled for September 2025 will be hosted by Brazil, highlighting its commitment to ensuring all children globally have access to healthy lunches by 2030.
The fundamental objective of the PNAE not only guarantees food security for millions of students but also emphasizes educational outcomes and potential growth opportunities, solidifying the program's influence on future generations. With the announced changes, the hope is to create a more nutritious and sustainable school meal environment for every child across Brazil.