Spain regulates school meals to promote healthy eating, limiting unhealthy foods and banning junk food advertising to minors.
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Spain has implemented the Royal Decree of Canteens (315/2025) to regulate food offered in school settings, aiming to promote healthy and sustainable nutrition and prevent obesity by prohibiting or limiting foods high in added sugars, saturated fats, or salt in vending machines and cafeterias, while also restricting trans fats. Although initially set for a one-year delay after publication, the Ministry of Consumption confirmed it is effective from the start of the school year, with schools having adapted their menus. Furthermore, public procurement for school catering must now include requirements for varied and balanced nutrition as a key award criterion. Experts emphasize that school canteens serve a dual role in providing nutrients and educating children on healthy eating habits, advocating for a Mediterranean diet approach and proper consideration of allergies. Separately, the government supports banning advertising of unhealthy foods to minors, citing international examples like Ireland’s restrictions on advertising high-fat or sugary products to those under 15, stressing that health education is crucial for preventing long-term diseases linked to excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods.
