Sophie Nicklaus, Deputy Scientific Director, Food and Bioeconomy, INRAE (testimony from the dossier “INRAE for healthy and sustainable food in school catering” – 2025)
As a researcher in behavioural sciences, I represent INRAE on the National Collective Catering Council. Set up by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, this committee looks at school catering via the supply of sustainable or quality products, the nutritional quality of meals, and food education, by monitoring the application of regulations or proposing changes to them. The quality of school catering can have an impact on children’s health. However, this varies greatly from one canteen to another. Our research shows that compliance with the regulations guarantees good nutritional intake, while at the same time acting as a lever for improving the environmental footprint of school catering. This is a major challenge, reflected in the EGalim law by the introduction of vegetarian and organic dishes in canteens. Research is working with the government to implement the regulations, and is supporting initiatives to educate children about food.
Testimonial from our thematic dossier
Thematic dossier
INRAE for healthy and sustainable food in school catering
In France, the challenges of school catering now go beyond simply providing a meal. In addition to the educational challenge of fostering healthy eating habits in future adults, there are public health, food safety and environmental issues to consider. The introduction of organic, quality and sustainable products in the canteen is now a priority. Nutritionists, sociologists, agronomists and economists from INRAE are helping to draw up, implement and evaluate public policies in this highly regulated sector.
