food policy quiz 4

Japan’s universal school lunch program

• 98.7% of elementary schools and 89.1% of junior high schools participate

• Guardians generally pay monthly ingredient costs (about $33–39 per child), while municipal governments cover labor and operating costs. Subsidies may be available.

2005 Basic Law on Food Education

Strengthened the educational purpose of school meals.

Food education is intended to develop students in three areas:

- Intellectually: learning about nutrition and food.

- Physically: developing healthy diets and lifestyles.

- Morally: developing gratitude toward food, nature, and the people who produce and prepare meals.

School Lunch Act of 1954

• Established the legal foundation for Japan’s school lunch system.

• Helped make school meals a structured part of public education rather than simply a form of food assistance.

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