Ministry of Education to halt sale of banned products in schools

• The Ministry of Education has been urged to monitor corn and saj machines, along with the sale of meals like ‘Jabati,’ samosas, grape leaves, and pizza, as they violate school canteen regulations, emphasizing the need for compliance to protect student safety.

The Ministry of Education has received a request for urgent action to prevent the sale of certain products in school canteens, Al Rai newspaper reports.

Informed sources told the newspaper that the Saudi Food and Nutrition Authority had detected the sale of items not permitted in educational facilities, violating the approved canteen list. Among the prohibited products were energy drinks for children and soft drinks.

The sources said that the commission had informed the Ministry of Education to monitor the presence of corn and sage machines, as well as the daily sale of meals such as ‘Jabati,’ samosas, grape leaves, and pizza, which violate the approved school canteen regulations. The commission emphasized the need to adhere to these rules to ensure the safety and well-being of students.

The sources also noted that the food authority’s actions are part of efforts to improve school canteens as part of a broader plan to combat child obesity in Kuwait, which includes the involvement of nutrition companies in managing canteens.

The commission has urged the ministry to take immediate corrective actions to address these violations and ensure full compliance with the regulations, to safeguard the health and safety of students.

Banned and unapproved foods found in school canteens include soft drinks, energy drinks for children, corn and sage vending machines, Al-Jabati, samosas, grape leaves, and pizza.