Nutrition: SPD General Secretary wants free lunch in schools

The SPD wants to introduce free lunch for students after the federal election. Its Secretary General Matthias Miersch told “Bild am Sonntag”: “I’m currently working on a concept that includes the implementation of the Citizens’ Assembly: free lunch in schools for everyone.” The Bundestag’s first citizens’ assembly on nutrition policy presented recommendations a few months ago. The first priority was lunch for all children in daycare centers and schools, co-financed by the federal government.

When asked whether all students from first grade to high school should benefit from the free lunch, Miersch said: “That will still be fine-tuned. That is also a question that the federal government and the states have to manage together.” Free meals at schools prevent the consequential health costs that the economy is currently bearing – for example because children become ill due to poor nutrition.

The federal states are responsible for education. However, Miersch emphasized: “We know about the financial sources of the states. In this respect, this concept will include counter-financing so that the states are not burdened one-sidedly.” It is still unclear how expensive the implementation will be, “but we assume that it will be in the billions.”