Foodstuffs not allowed in the canteens include chocolates, potato chips, nuggets, fried food, processed meat, soft drinks with high sugar, energy drinks and other unhealthy foods.
Doha: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has amended some of the health specifications for school canteens and has included a list of meals. Food with a high content of sugar, fat and salt has been restricted in the school canteens and will not be allowed to be served to students, said Hamad Al Rumaihi, Director of School Canteens Section at the Department of the General Service of the ministry.
The foodstuffs that are not allowed in the school canteens include chocolates, potato chips, nuggets, fried food, processed meat, soft drinks with high sugar, energy drinks and other unhealthy foods, Al Rumailhi said.
The ministry has finalised a new list of food items that need to be offered by schools canteens by the concerned permanent committee. Al Rumaihi said the committee held several meetings and updated the health specifications in order to offer healthy food to students.
The committee has published a special booklet which includes health specifications that help in selection of restaurants and school canteens that could fulfill the health conditions.
Regarding food prices in the canteens, the committee has unified the prices in all Independent schools and said it has made the prices affordable for students. According to Al Rumaihi, the prices range between 1 to QR 3 for the same food items in primary schools, and from 1 to QR 5 for the same food items in preparatory and secondary schools.
School canteens are under the direct supervision of the health control department of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment. Health inspectors of the Ministry inspect canteens and check places where food is prepared, in addition to checking whether the food supply companies and restaurants are complying with the rules.
