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Healthy menus mandatory in nurseries for ages 0-3

New Ministry of Consumer Affairs regulation mandates fewer fried foods, more fish and vegetables, and promotes breastfeeding.

Generic image of fresh fruit and vegetables served on a plate for children.
IA

Generic image of fresh fruit and vegetables served on a plate for children.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs will extend healthy menu guidelines to childcare centers for ages 0-3, banning industrial pastries and increasing consumption of fish, vegetables, and whole grains.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, led by Pablo Bustinduy, has announced the implementation of the Healthy School Canteens royal decree guidelines for the first cycle of early childhood education (0-3 years). The new regulation aims to ensure balanced menus, with fresh fruit and vegetables daily, increased consumption of fish and legumes, and a reduction in fried and pre-cooked foods.
In addition to nutritional recommendations, childcare centers will be required to actively promote breastfeeding. This includes providing spaces for mothers who wish to breastfeed at the center and ensuring optimal conditions for the reception, storage, and handling of breast milk.
The objective of this measure is to align with national and international health organizations' recommendations on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding up to two years or beyond. This regulation is based on guidelines from the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN).
Educational centers must offer at least 45% seasonal fruit and vegetables, a minimum of legumes and fish weekly, and prioritize whole grains. Beverages will be limited to water and milk, with soft drinks and sweetened beverages eliminated. Pre-cooked meals can only be included once a month and fried foods once a week, favoring baking, steaming, or grilling.
The regulation also stipulates that at least 5% of food costs must be allocated to organic products. Specific food safety guidelines for early childhood are incorporated, such as not offering foods not previously introduced at home, serving white rice until age three to minimize inorganic arsenic exposure, adding no salt until 12 months, and safely cutting foods that may cause choking.

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