The 'School Food Logo' application, prepared in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Health and supported by the Turkish Kidney Foundation, has come to an end. A press conference was held on the subject. The application aims to provide students with access to healthier foods in the school environment. The logo period begins, which will show that the packaged foods that will be sold in school canteens, cafeterias and buffets in the new academic year comply with the nutritional criteria such as sugar, fat and salt rates determined by the Ministry of Health.
The practice, which was first brought to the agenda with the protocol in 2019 but was postponed for various reasons, is expected to come into effect with the new academic year following the preparations made. In this context, 675 products were entitled to receive the "School Food Logo" in the first stage. With this new era, which closely concerns millions of students across Türkiye, standards in packaged food sales in school canteens will be redefined.
KAPLAN: THE BEST CONTROLLER IS THE CONSUMER
Speaking at the press conference, Selim Kaplan, Head of Food Codex and Feed Legislation Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Food and Control, said, "I would like to introduce the Safe Food application. Our Ministry has a motto. Our Minister İbrahim Yumaklı always says: 'The best controller is the consumer.' An application we developed to enable our consumers to participate more effectively in food inspections. It can be easily downloaded from mobile stores. We can express it briefly with the name 'Reliable Food' and the motto 'I'm in Control'. Let's show the application, if we have the opportunity to pull it. When you click on this application, a screen opens and there are menus at the bottom. So, what do these menus do? There are 'Send a Check', 'Business Audit Inquiry', 'Food Public Announcements', 'Accurate Information on Food', 'Food Supplements' and 'Useful Links' sections. First of all, when you click on the 'Send Check' application, you need to log in to the system with your e-Government password. When you log in with your e-Government password, the system identifies you. When you go to a food business with the 'Send Check' application, you may want to make a complaint about that business. If you want to make a complaint about the food you consume or the food you buy in a market, you can apply instantly via the 'Send Check' application. The system automatically detects your location here. You click on the 'Create a New Application' button and select the 'Notification of Nonconformance' option. "For example, if you want to make a notification about food or the hygiene of the food business, you fill in the necessary fields," he said.
'SAFE FOOD APPLICATION IS A CONSUMER FRIENDLY APPLICATION'
Selim Kaplan said, "Here, you can select the address of the food business directly on the map and have your location automatically detected. Then, if you want to take a photo regarding the non-compliance, you take a photo and upload it to the system. Then, you preview your application. If there is no problem, you say 'Send'. Your application is instantly forwarded to our Alo Gıda 174 line. We have operators there. This line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and applications are tracked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can submit your complaint instantly via Gıda İletişim. You will definitely receive feedback regarding all complaints we create here. Another section of the application is 'Business Audit Inquiry'. We have made the application of QR codes mandatory, especially in mass consumption and sales places. This QR code must be hung in a visible place in food establishments. In the application, you enter the 'Business Control Inquiry' section and scan the QR code hanging in the business. As soon as you read it, you can see the name of the business, its address, the registration or approval number it received from our Ministry, and the date of the last inspection of the business. Of course, these menus are now being developed. We hope to open different areas under this menu in the coming period. A consumer friendly application. "We want our consumers to download this application to their mobile phones and use it actively," he said.
'WE CONDUCT NEARLY 1 MILLION 400 THOUSAND INSPECTIONS ANNUALLY'
Kaplan said, "We carry out nearly 1 million 400 thousand inspections annually with 8 thousand 300 inspectors. However, we attach importance to the active participation of our consumers in the inspections through this system. Another area is "Food Public Announcements." As you know, our Ministry conducts food safety inspections, takes samples and performs analyses. If there is a product that may be subject to imitation or adulteration, we share it on our website as a public announcement. These announcements can also be accessed on our Ministry of Reliable Food, Agriculture and Forestry page. You can also easily view public announcements through the application. Another area is “Accurate Information in Food.” There are topics that our consumers are very curious about. For example, content regarding food label reading is included here. This area is also available on our Ministry of Reliable Food, Agriculture and Forestry page. Directions to that area are also made through the application. "When you click here, you can access posts about the questions you are wondering about food," he said.
'WE WANT TO EXPAND THE CONSUMPTION OF WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR BREAD'
Kaplan said, "In addition, there is a 'Supplementary Foods' section under our application. As you know, supplementary foods cannot be put on the market without approval from our Ministry. You can see through this system whether a food supplement you have purchased is approved by our Ministry. That is why I would like to emphasize again: Our consumers should please download this application to their mobile phones and use it actively. This is an important application, but it is not an application that will eliminate all problems regarding adequate and balanced nutrition on its own. In fact, eating habits start from the family. Parents must first become conscious." Then, children need to be educated. Then, of course, it is important for our children to be fed in schools. As we have just said, our legislation and studies on this issue are ongoing. In addition, we have various campaigns. For example, we want to spread the consumption of whole wheat flour bread instead of white bread. So why do we want this? Whole wheat flour bread also contains more fiber. "It contains vitamins and minerals and naturally supports your intestinal flora. It also contributes to the prevention of future diseases such as diabetes or obesity."
Kaplan concluded his words as follows:
"We started this campaign as a pilot in the province of Konya. Then we included the provinces of Çorum and Erzurum. We hope to expand this campaign throughout Turkey in the near future. Here, let us say to all our consumers: If they do not have any diseases or restrictions, and their doctor does not have a different recommendation, we recommend that they prefer whole wheat bread instead of white bread, and even sourdough whole wheat bread, if possible, instead of white bread. As we said in this field, legislation, inspection and other "The work continues. Our studies and campaigns continue together, as the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, with the contributions of our Ministry of Health."
ERK: WE ARE RANKED THIRD IN THE WORLD AND FIRST IN EUROPE IN CHILDHOOD OBESITY
Timur Erk, President of the Turkish Kidney Foundation (TBV), said, "A significant portion of the Turkish population consists of young people. Unfortunately, we rank third in the world and first in Europe in childhood obesity. Raising healthy generations should be our main goal. For this reason, three ministers came together six years ago. The Minister of Health, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and the Minister of National Education signed a declaration. From now on, only healthy school foods will be sold in canteens. In other words, some products will be banned and serious inspections will be carried out. The pandemic has happened, this has happened, the application has been postponed for various reasons. Now we have reached a point where there are 675 products that meet the school food criteria. Therefore, the application should be implemented as soon as possible. We now have the product, everything is available. Of course, we also want the necessary controls to be carried out. "Frosty chocolate and its derivatives will be banned. There may be buttermilk, milk and similar products. I would like to say something to mothers here. Not every child can shop at the school canteen. It is very beneficial for the mother to put healthy nutrition products in a bag and give them to the student."
RECOMMENDED FOODS
Turkish Kidney Foundation Dietician Gökçen Efe Aydın drew attention to the healthy options available to students in school canteens. Among the foods suggested by Gökçen Efe Aydın within the scope of 'School Food Logo'; It includes seasonal fresh fruits, seasonal vegetables that can be consumed raw, dried fruit portions of maximum 30 grams, unsalted nuts of maximum 30 grams, maximum 250 ml of freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juice, milk, yoghurt, buttermilk and cheese varieties, whole wheat bread, eggs, drinking water, natural mineral water, sugar-free gums.
NO ENERGY DRINK, SODA, CHIPS AND CHOCOLATE IN THE CANTINE
The aim of the application is to limit the access of products in the school environment that may negatively affect children's healthy eating habits. In this context; Energy drinks, carbonated and cola drinks, flavored drinks, fries, chips, chocolate and candies, cream or chocolate-filled cakes and biscuits, dough and sherbet desserts, raw meatballs and foods and drinks containing sweeteners are not considered within the scope of school food. Dietician Aydın also stated that even if the salt content is low, salty crackers should be considered among the products that should not be in school canteens. In addition to the arrangements in school canteens, the lunchbox that children take from home to school is an important part of healthy nutrition. While attention is drawn to the importance of students having breakfast before going to school, it is recommended that children, especially primary school children, be encouraged to take a healthy lunch box from home. Gökçen Efe Aydın stated that options such as dried fruit, unsalted nuts and milk, cheese sandwich and ayran prepared with whole wheat bread, homemade meatballs and ayran, fresh fruit, milk and nuts can be included in children's lunch boxes.
Turkish Kidney Foundation evaluates the school food practice not only in terms of what children eat today, but also in terms of preventing chronic diseases they may encounter in the future. While it is noted that eating habits acquired in childhood can continue throughout life; It was stated that consuming less salt and sugar, drinking enough water, balanced nutrition and gaining active lifestyle habits at an early age are important for preventive health.
