WHO: New Guidelines for Healthy School Food Environments

The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on schools globally to prioritize healthy eating for children, releasing new guidelines designed to foster lifelong healthy habits. The recommendations, published in January 2026, represent the first time the WHO has advised countries to adopt a comprehensive, “whole-school” approach to nutrition, ensuring that food and beverages available to students – not just in cafeterias, but throughout the entire school environment – are nutritious and supportive of well-being.

This guidance arrives at a critical juncture. Globally, childhood overweight and obesity are on the rise, even as undernutrition continues to affect millions. In 2025, approximately one in ten school-aged children and adolescents – a staggering 188 million – were living with obesity, surpassing the number of children experiencing underweight for the first time. Schools, as central hubs for children’s daily lives, are uniquely positioned to address this “double burden of malnutrition.”

The School Food Environment: A Critical Setting

“The food children eat at school, and the environments that shape what they eat, can have a profound impact on their learning, and lifelong consequences for their health and well-being,” stated Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. The WHO emphasizes that establishing healthy dietary practices early in life is crucial for preventing chronic diseases later on and cultivating a healthier adult population. With an estimated 466 million children globally receiving school meals, the nutritional quality of these provisions is a significant public health concern.

The new WHO guideline focuses on three key areas for intervention: direct food provision in schools, establishing nutrition standards for foods sold or served at school, and implementing “nudging” interventions – subtle changes to the school food environment designed to encourage healthier choices. These interventions are not intended to be restrictive, but rather to make the healthier option the easier option.

Specific Recommendations for Healthier School Food

The WHO’s recommendations are built on a foundation of evidence-based policies. Specifically, the guideline strongly recommends that schools set standards or rules to increase the availability, purchase, and consumption of healthy foods and beverages while simultaneously limiting access to less healthy options. This could include restricting the sale of sugary drinks and processed snacks, and increasing the availability of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

The guideline also conditionally recommends implementing nudging interventions. These strategies aim to influence children’s choices without restricting their freedom. Examples include strategically placing healthier foods at eye level, offering smaller portions of unhealthy items, or adjusting pricing to make healthy options more affordable. These interventions are considered “conditional” because their effectiveness can vary depending on the specific context and implementation.

Beyond Policy: Implementation and Enforcement

The WHO acknowledges that simply enacting policies is insufficient. Effective implementation and consistent enforcement are essential to ensure that guidelines are followed. As of October 2025, according to the WHO Global database on the Implementation of Food and Nutrition Action (GIFNA), 104 Member States had policies on healthy school food in place. However, only 48 countries had policies that restricted the marketing of foods high in sugar, salt, or unhealthy fats, highlighting a gap in comprehensive regulation.

The guideline emphasizes the importance of a multi-faceted approach, recognizing that subnational and city authorities often play a crucial role in developing and implementing school food initiatives. The WHO intends to support Member States through technical assistance, knowledge-sharing, and collaborative partnerships to facilitate the adaptation and implementation of these guidelines.

A Global Effort to Address Malnutrition

The development of this guideline involved a diverse group of international experts, convened by the WHO through a rigorous and transparent process. This work is a cornerstone of the WHO’s broader mission to create healthy food environments and is aligned with global initiatives such as the WHO acceleration plan to stop obesity and the nutrition-friendly schools initiative.

The WHO’s focus on school food environments reflects a growing understanding of the complex factors that contribute to childhood obesity and malnutrition. By creating healthier school environments, the organization hopes to empower children to make informed food choices and develop lifelong healthy eating habits. This, in turn, can contribute to improved learning outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and a healthier future for generations to approach.

Looking Ahead: Support and Collaboration

To further discuss the new guidelines, the WHO hosted a global webinar on January 27, 2026. A recording of the webinar is available online. The organization will continue to provide support to Member States, offering technical assistance and fostering collaboration to ensure the successful implementation of these vital recommendations. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation will be crucial to assess the impact of these policies and identify areas for improvement, ultimately shaping a healthier future for children worldwide.