Lebanon Releases First National Assessment on School Nutrition and Food Environments

BEIRUT — Lebanon's Ministry of Education and Higher Education, alongside United Nations agencies and international partners, released the country's first National Nutrition and Food Environment Report in Lebanese Public Schools this week. The assessment was coordinated with the Agence française de développement (AFD), the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, and the International Orthodox Christian Charity.

Covering all governorates across Lebanon, the assessment examined dietary practices, nutritional status, nutrition knowledge, purchasing behaviours, and physical activity among public school students, as well as the food environments inside and around schools.

According to the report, 57 percent of students did not meet Global Dietary Recommendations. The assessment identified a growing burden of overweight and obesity, coupled with poor dietary diversity. Researchers noted low consumption of nutritious foods alongside high intake of sweetened beverages, fast food, and ultra-processed items. Non-permitted foods were found to be widely available, and unhealthy options were marketed through physical and digital channels. Additionally, nearly one in five students reported lacking either a snack or money to buy food during the school day, with limited household purchasing power cited as a key factor.

The findings indicated that students attending schools supported by school meals programmes were more likely to meet dietary recommendations, while food outlets in those facilities demonstrated greater compliance with nutrition standards. Caregivers noted that school meals helped lower household expenses and encouraged children to eat nutritious food.

In remarks delivered on her behalf by Director General of Education Fadi Yarak, Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Rima Karami stated that the emergency school feeding programme had expanded to approximately 150,000 students. The Ministry plans to gradually expand the programme to all public schools using hub schools equipped with central kitchens.

Minister Karami also announced an upcoming consultation process to create a national school feeding policy, update regulations for food and beverages in schools, integrate health and well-being topics into curricula, and establish a framework for private-sector partnerships.

Source