Recent Study: Schools and Daycare Centers Lead in Organic Food Consumption
Just how relevant this timeframe is can already be seen from the current situation: A German study presented in July 2026 by AMI and Ecozept Germany on behalf of the BMLEH (German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture) shows that schools and daycare centers are already playing a pioneering role in organic purchasing. As part of the “Organic in Institutional Food Service” project, which has been running since 2025, school and daycare food service achieved the highest organic share – 6.1 per cent of total food purchases – among all sectors of institutional food service surveyed, ahead of full-service restaurants (4.4%) and company cafeterias (3.5%). Schools and daycare centres are thus already pioneers in the out-of-home comparison – albeit at a level that remains low overall.
Why Lunch Is Relevant to Public Health Policy
Initial Health Status
As all-day schooling expands and the proportion of children eating lunch at school increases accordingly, so too does the health responsibility of school meal programmes. This is evident in the fact that a significant proportion of children and adolescents in Germany do not meet dietary recommendations – leading to consequences such as nutrient deficiencies and obesity. Nutrition specialist Prof. Dr Berthold Koletzko highlighted this during a session of the Citizens’ Assembly on Nutrition at the German Federal Parliament. He also emphasised that health outcomes depend heavily on social background and that inequalities often arise as early as childhood.
The Quality Standard of the German Nutrition Society as a Framework
Prof. Dr Wilhelm Windisch (Technical University of Munich) added during this expert discussion that lunch can make a significant contribution to the intake of essential nutrients – provided that the German Nutrition Society’s quality standard for school meals is met. In addition to nutritional requirements, this standard covers other sustainability criteria, including organically produced foods, fair trade and animal welfare
Organic Out-of-Home Regulations and Support Programs
Since October 2023, the Organic Out-of-Home Catering Regulation has established a nationwide framework for labelling the organic content in institutional catering. It introduces a standardised logo system (Bronze for 20% or more, Silver for 50% or more, and Gold for 90% or more organic content). It is supported by two federal funding programmes: RIZERT-AHV covers up to 80 per cent of certification costs (and even 100 per cent for daycare centres and schools), while RIBE-AHV subsidises consulting and training services by up to 80 per cent, provided that the goal is to achieve an organic content of at least 30 per cent of the cost of goods sold.
Practical Approaches to Increasing the Use of Organic Foods in School Meals
In addition to the political framework, practical educational and advisory approaches are gaining importance: one on the demand side – among children – and the other on the implementation side, in the kitchens
Acker – Experiencing Food with All the Senses
Through the “GemüseAckerdemie” program, the social enterprise Acker brings nutrition education right to the schoolyard: Children grow their own vegetables and follow the process from seed to harvest. More than 1,350 schools are now participating, and since 2013, over 400,000 students have taken part in the “GemüseAckerdemie” program
