Hungary has mandatory regulations of school feeding in place that set up nutritional requirements for different age groups with the objective to achieve healthier meals in mass catering, thus contributing to the prevention of diet-related non-communicable diseases, and childhood obesity.

By assisting to avoid certain nutritional risk factors already at early age, the legislation offers solution for a wide societal demand.

The provisions apply to kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, institutes providing social care, homes providing care and protection for children, and to patient catering in health care institutes.

The main areas regulated by the decree are the followings:

• Tolerable daily energy and salt intake for the different age groups (in a gradually decreasing manner for salt),
• The different service types (e.g. whole day care, 3 times a day meal, kindergarten catering, hospital care), the number of meals, daily amount of dairy products, cereal based products, fruits and vegetables,
• Restrictions on the consumption of certain foodstuffs, among others the list of foodstuffs which are not allowed to use in mass catering (e.g. energy drinks defined in the law on the public health product tax, foodstuffs containing alcohol, sugar sweetened beverages, soft drinks, caffeine-containing drinks under the age of 18),
• Mandatory service for people with special dietary needs,
• Special educational requirements for those who plan the daily menu, especially the dietetic menu.

School Food Policy (SFP) is embedded in other policy as for health or education.

The decree No. 19 of 2015 (IV. 24.) of the Hungary Ministry of Agriculture regulates the kindergarten and school milk program. This Decree in line with EU norms, foresees a contribution to be granted to a wide range of educational institutes (kindergarten to secondary schools, and schools for pupils with special educational needs) for the distribution (of an average quantity of 0,25 liter) of milk per student. 

In the framework of this “School Milk Program” the Hungarian Government gives price subsidy to schools and nursery schools which provide milk, cocoa or lactose-free milk to the children In addition to milk, the children now already get yogurt, kefir and cheese. Target group: 4-18 year old school children 

Duration: 27 week 

Accompanying educational measures: tasting classes, educational material, farm visits, contests and rewards promoting healthy eating habits. 

The milk products are financed by community resources and central budget funds.

Contact information: 
Ministry of Agriculture of Hungary 
Attila Nagy 
Tel: +36 1 7953 998 
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.