Russian schools see shortage of popular sausages and mini-pizzas goodies
In a bid to address the rising concern of childhood obesity, a pilot program has been implemented in the Voronezh Oblast, Russia, since August 2025. This initiative aims to remove fast food and high-calorie items from school menus in selected schools and municipalities [3].
The program, currently limited to the Voronezh Oblast, targets one-third of children aged 7-11 who are obese, and one-third of all Russian children who are overweight, according to federal statistics [1]. If successful, the program is planned to expand across the entire region by the second half of 2026 [3]. However, as of now, there is no confirmed information available regarding a nationwide ban or its extension to other federal subjects of Russia beyond Voronezh Oblast.
This move is part of a broader national focus on nutritional education and preventative health measures for youth in Russia. While other countries and some US states have undertaken broader bans or restrictions on junk food purchases, these are primarily related to SNAP benefits or national public health policies, not Russian school lunches [1][4].
In Voronezh Oblast, some schools have already updated their menus, replacing unhealthy foods with salads, vegetables, fruits, and minimizing sugar and simple carbohydrates. This shift is expected to help combat the growing issue of childhood obesity, which doctors have warned can lead to mental health problems, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues [2].
The success of such initiatives, however, depends not only on school menus but also on family eating habits. Parents are reminded to play a crucial role in instilling healthy eating habits in their children.
As the pilot program progresses, debates about changing children's eating habits through school lunches have sparked on forums and in parent chat groups. Only time will tell if the experiment in Voronezh Oblast will lead to a real decrease in the number of overweight children.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2025, August 10). Russia bans unhealthy foods in school canteens. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57898755
[2] The Moscow Times. (2025, August 15). Russian children's health at risk due to obesity, doctors warn. Retrieved from https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/08/15/russian-childrens-health-at-risk-due-to-obesity-doctors-warn-a73666
[3] TASS. (2025, August 5). Voronezh Oblast introduces ban on unhealthy foods in school canteens. Retrieved from https://tass.com/society/1308917
[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). School Health Guidelines to Prevent Obesity. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/obesity/index.htm
The pilot program in Voronezh Oblast, aiming to combat childhood obesity, extends beyond school menus to incorporate a focus on nutritional education and wellness, as part of a broader national strategy. If the program proves successful, it might spur conversations about fitness-and-exercise and adopting healthier eating habits as a means to promote health-and-wellness and counteract the risks associated with obesity, such as mental health problems, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues.
