Although access to food is the third most important human need after air and water, healthy diets remain unaffordable for a third of the world’s population, meaning that over 2.8 billion people in the world cannot afford a diverse, nutritious and healthy food intake.

Today on World Food Day, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations asks for “greater diversity of nutritious foods” on our fields, our markets, and our tables - ”for the benefit of all”. Everyone should have the right to adequate food. So, how can this be achieved?

The food served in public canteens, e.g. at schools and universities, can make an important contribution to fulfilling this basic right. Every autumn, more than 90 million children and pupils in Europe return to school and university and thus to public canteens.

Good school meals and food education have been identified as essential, cost-effective public health strategies, since food consumed at school accounts for over 50% of energy intake for children and young people. Moreover, a recent study has shown that policy measures to promote healthy school meals are effective in combating malnutrition and obesity, and promoting environmental sustainability.

However, not all European schools offer healthy lunches, and some do not offer lunch at all. At the same time EU child obesity rates are increasing, with almost one in three children overweight or living with obesity.

Over 100,000 signatures call for access to healthier food for young people

Acknowledging this evidence, ICLEI Europe has partnered with WeMove Europe and Avaaz to launch a petition calling for all children to be offered “food education and one healthy school meal per day in every school”. The petition addresses the European Commission and EU Member States, asking them to spend public money more responsibly and supply healthy and sustainable food in schools to all children.

This autumn, the petition passed another milestone and now has over 100,000 signatures! The numerous signatories show their support to provide all children with free, healthy and sustainable school meals and food education, as the minimum standard for the Commission's vision on healthy food. This would also help implement the European Child Guarantee, which seeks to ensure basic rights for the most vulnerable children.

Local and regional governments can play a key role in transforming the food system by providing healthy and sustainable meals in their public canteens, and ICLEI is advocating to develop an appropriate regulation to support this transition, “for a better life and a better future”. Indeed at the EU level, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, already announced that food will remain high on the political agenda: she plans on presenting a Vision for Agriculture and Food and on reviewing legislation governing public procurement to promote innovative and sustainable solutions.

Thus, the beginning of school is a key moment that reminds us just how relevant ICLEI Europe’s advocacy for just, healthy and sustainable food systems is.

To read and sign the ‘Free healthy school meals for all children!’-petition, click here.

For more information about ICLEI’s work on sustainable food initiatives, click here.