Regions will be able to create state-owned enterprises for school meals.

      In Russia, the approach to organizing school meals may undergo radical changes. The Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg has submitted a bill to the State Duma that allows regions to create their own state enterprises to provide food for educational institutions. Currently, according to the Federal Assembly, only about 60% of schools have their own food blocks, while the rest operate through outsourcing, reports the publication "Izvestia."

      The idea has already been supported by the Federation Council. They noted the alarming statistics: the material and technical base of most schools is outdated — food blocks were built before 1980 and are heavily worn. The problem of the quality of the products themselves is equally acute. Children are experiencing a serious deficiency of trace elements: 82% of schoolchildren lack calcium, 58% lack magnesium, and 68% lack omega-3. In the Federation Council, it was proposed that the government prioritize fish products and functional food in regional programs.

      Supporters of the reform are confident that centralization will also bring economic benefits. According to calculations by the "Rosinfra" platform, wholesale purchases and established logistics will reduce food costs by 10-15%. The experience of Chuvashia confirms this: there, the number of food organizers was reduced from 400 to 30, and school directors were relieved of the responsibilities of purchasing, selecting cooks, and logistics.

      However, the initiative raises questions among parents. According to surveys by the Sociological Institute of the FNIISC RAS, on average across Russia, parents rate the quality of school food at only 3.4 out of five. Only 25% of adults believe they can actually influence the menu. Moreover, children often do not have enough time to eat during breaks — cafeterias close too early.

      The main obstacle to the reform may be a lack of personnel. The catering sector currently requires about 30,000 employees. In St. Petersburg, even a 20% salary increase did not attract people to cafes and restaurants, and sociologists warn that a whole system of incentives will need to be developed for school canteens.

      The ANO "Institute of Industry Nutrition" has called for waiting for the government's conclusion on the bill. They emphasized that the document does not obligate all regions to switch to the new model but merely grants them that right. In rural areas, for example, the previous method of cooking directly in schools may turn out to be cheaper. It is also proposed to remove suppliers caught in counterfeiting from trading — they plan to check them through the "Honest Sign" and "Mercury" systems.