TH Group proposes the development of a Law on School Nutrition.
“Driven by our aspiration to contribute to improving the health and stature of Vietnamese people and drawing on our extensive experience in this field, TH Group proposes the creation of a separate law, the Law on School Nutrition,” – the founder of TH Group stated at the Government Standing Committee's meeting with businesses on solutions to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country, held this morning, September 21st.
Proposal to develop a Law on School Nutrition
During the discussions at the conference, the representative from TH Group drew attention with a proposal to develop a Law on School Nutrition, aimed at improving the health and stature of the younger generation in particular and Vietnamese people in general.
Labor Hero Thai Huong - General Director of Bac A Commercial Bank, Founder and Chairman of TH's Strategic Council, believes that investing in health contributes to improving the gene pool of a nation and is an investment in the strategic development of the country. Over the years, Vietnam has achieved many successes in improving the nutritional status of its people, completing national nutrition targets ahead of schedule. However, many nutritional problems still exist, especially among preschool and school-aged children. Currently, Vietnam remains among the countries and territories with a low average height, ranking 15th from the bottom of the world.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 86% of a person's height and physical development occurs by the age of 12. Therefore, investing in physical and intellectual development during this crucial period is extremely important to avoid missing out on valuable developmental opportunities throughout life.
In many countries around the world, such as Japan, since 1954, there has been a School Nutrition Act, regulating nutritional standards and food safety management for school meals. In Thailand, the government has issued a set of standards for school lunches. And in Indonesia, the newly elected president has pledged to implement a free school lunch program starting in 2025…
“TH Group proposes the creation of a separate law, the Law on School Nutrition. A separate law is necessary because the regulations will be very broad and comprehensive, affecting the health and stature of future generations. The experience of countries that have successfully implemented this, including Japan, is a clear example of this,” – Labor Hero Thai Huong expressed.
The government thanks businesses for proposing specific tasks on many important issues facing the country today, including proposals on child nutrition and improving the physical health of the population… Based on these proposals, agencies will study them, assign tasks, and commission businesses to carry them out.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh
Scientific and practical foundations
Given the current shortcomings in school nutrition and school meals, Ms. Thai Huong and TH Group's proposal to develop a Law on School Nutrition is considered appropriate and necessary, especially in the context where we already have scientific and practical grounds from systematic experimental studies by agencies such as the National Institute of Nutrition and the Ministry of Education and Training.
In 2013, the National Institute of Nutrition and French nutrition experts collaborated with TH Group to develop a model combining research and product testing. The model was implemented in 15 kindergartens and primary schools with 3,600 children in Nghia Dan district, Nghe An province. Focusing on transparent control groups, with assessments of dietary intake and micronutrient deficiencies through blood tests for vitamin A, zinc, and Hb before and after milk consumption, this study was deemed rigorous and scientifically sound.
TH true MILK UHT school milk is the first product certified by the Ministry of Health for its effectiveness in improving the nutritional status and micronutrient levels of children. This serves as a practical basis for issuing school milk standards in the National School Milk Program, as stipulated in Decision No. 1340/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister, contributing to minimizing the supply of milk of unknown origin and not meeting food safety and hygiene standards to schools.
In 2019, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Health, and independent experts consulted the practical experiences of developed countries around the world, specifically Japan, to implement the "Model of school meals ensuring balanced nutrition combined with enhanced physical activity for children, students, and university students".
This model was piloted during the 2020-2021 school year in 10 schools across 10 provinces and cities, representing 5 major ecological regions nationwide, including: the northern mountainous region, the Red River Delta, the central region, the Mekong Delta, and the Central Highlands. In the pilot model, school meals were approached using entirely natural foods, based on the agricultural advantages of each region, and fresh, whole milk was scientifically incorporated into the meal composition.
The main intervention of the model is 400 diverse, balanced, and micronutrient-rich school meal menus, with an afternoon snack including a glass of whole milk to improve calcium intake, combined with nutrition education and physical education. A diverse, scientifically sound, and balanced school meal will provide all the necessary micronutrients for children's development, and this is the most long-term and sustainable solution in the fight against micronutrient deficiencies in children.
According to Ms. Thai Huong, Founder and Chair of TH's Strategic Council: The School Nutrition Law needs to be developed in a systematic, careful, and thorough manner, encompassing many aspects of healthcare for children, students, and university students, based on research and models with proven experimental results, such as the "Model of school meals ensuring balanced nutrition combined with enhanced physical activity for children, students, and university students" as an example.
"Practical results from the pilot model indicate that, if schools are provided with the necessary and sufficient conditions, including improved facilities, human resources, professional training, and the integration of nutrition education and physical education, it is possible to improve children's nutritional status, reduce malnutrition and overweight/obesity, help them develop better physically, create healthy eating habits, and prevent non-communicable diseases in adulthood," Ms. Thai Huong affirmed.
