COOPERATIVE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION OF UKRAINE IS AMONG THE LEADERS IN THE REFORM OF THE SCHOOL FOOD SYSTEM
The scientists of the cooperative institution of higher education of Ukraine – Poltava University of Economics and Trade (PUET) are among the invited flagships in the field of nutrition to reform the school nutrition system.
The reform of the school food system, approved by the Government of Ukraine on October 23, 2023, is the part of the National Strategy for Building a Safe and Healthy Educational Environment in the New Ukrainian School. In order to provide the students with food and drinks that meet the principles of healthy nutrition, in accordance with the recommendations of the WHO and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, experts of the Office of Reforms invited the specialists from universities – flagships in the field of nutrition to join the reform of the school nutrition system. Among the invited guests are PUET scientists.
The strategy for reforming the school nutrition system is designed for 2023 – 2027. The following key directions can be tentatively identified in it:
– organization of high-quality and safe food: procurement and financing;
– restoration and modernization of food blocks: a comprehensive approach;
– compliance with the requirements of the HACCP system;
– development of personnel potential;
– introduction of new food standards, menus, as well as the formation of a culture of healthy eating.
PUET joined this process even before the legislative regulation of reforming the school meals. After all, PUET has been training food technologists for many years, and procurement specialists, in particular food products, are trained here as part of the first educational program in Ukraine “Public Procurement”. Poltava University of Economics and Trade was the first in Ukraine to open the “School of HACCP” and launched a series of trainings “Implementation of the HACCP system for educational institutions”. University teachers joined the work of the Office of Reforms by creating new recipe books for schools. They also participated as trainers in the School Chef’s Training Hubs Development project, which involves the creation of culinary hubs in the Ternopil, Odesa and Poltava regions, joined the working group of the Office of Reforms of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
Poltava University of Economics and Trade, as an institution of education and science, can scientifically investigate these issues, there are experts here who can prove the scientific facts in simple language, conduct the educational activities. That is, the state develops, and the university distributes the information among parents, children, cooks. That is why PUET is among the flagships of school menu reform.
In addition to the scientific and practical support of the reform, the scientists of Poltava University of Economics and Trade joined the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and held trainings, seminars for children and parents, enterprises, territorial communities of the Poltava region. PUET developed and successfully implemented the “Healthy Food Festival” program in schools of Poltava and the region.
