Food Manifest 
Key Update
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released a new global guideline urging countries to create healthier food environments in schools. For the first time, the organisation recommends a whole-school approach to ensure that all food and beverages available on school premises meet nutritional standards.
Rising Malnutrition Concerns Prompt Action
WHO issued the guideline against the backdrop of a growing double burden of malnutrition. While undernutrition continues to affect many regions, childhood overweight and obesity are rising rapidly. In 2025, an estimated 188 million school-aged children and adolescents were living with obesity, surpassing the number of underweight children for the first time.
School Food Shapes Lifelong Health
WHO emphasises that what children eat at school directly influences their learning, health, and long-term well-being. Improving nutrition during school years can reduce the risk of chronic diseases later in life and support healthier adult populations. Around 466 million children worldwide receive school meals daily, yet data on the nutritional quality of these meals remains limited.
Key Recommendations and Implementation Gaps
The guideline calls for mandatory nutrition standards to increase access to healthy foods and restrict items high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. WHO also supports “nudging” strategies, such as improving food placement, presentation, and pricing, to encourage healthier choices. While 104 countries have adopted healthy school food policies, fewer than half restrict the marketing of unhealthy foods to children, highlighting the need for stronger monitoring and enforcement.
Support for Countries and Local Authorities
Developed through a rigorous, evidence-based process, the guideline underscores the role of local and city authorities in implementing school food initiatives. WHO has committed to supporting countries through technical assistance, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing to turn policy into action.
Source: World Health Organisation
