Schools in Chernivtsi will inspect student meals following the raw carrot scandal
Inspections will be conducted in schools in Chernivtsi and the Chernivtsi region to review the organization of free meals for students. The decision was made after a photo of a lunch served to students at one of Chernivtsi’s schools appeared on social media.
The photo showed a raw, whole carrot, a cheese casserole, bread, plums, and tea.
Vitaliy Oliinyk posted the photo on Facebook on the evening of September 2. He drew attention to the organization of school meals in Chernivtsi and asked users to share how children are fed in other regions.
According to him, his child was offered a raw carrot as an option for fresh vegetables.
It later emerged that this lunch was served to students at Chernivtsi Lyceum No. 9.
The Education Department of the Chernivtsi City Council stated that it had already contacted the company responsible for providing meals to students at this school.
“We are categorically dissatisfied with the appearance and quality of the food. They should not serve food this way. Our children will definitely receive food in proper condition,” the Education Department reported on September 3.
The Education Department noted that the mistake may have been caused by a heavy workload on the kitchen staff.
According to the department, last year 8,000 to 10,000 students ate in the region’s school cafeterias, while this year that number has risen to 26,000 children.
At the same time, the department emphasized that regardless of the workload, students must receive meals of proper quality and in the appropriate form.
Following the public outcry, the Chernivtsi Regional State Administration announced an inspection of all schools in the city and region.
Inspections of educational institutions began on September 3. Attention will be paid not only to documentation but also to the actual meals children are receiving.
“We will check not only the documents but also what the children are actually receiving. The Chernivtsi Regional State Administration and law enforcement agencies will respond immediately to any violations discovered, and those responsible will be held accountable under the law,” said Ruslan Osypenko, head of the Chernivtsi Regional State Administration.
Thus, following the incident involving raw carrots in a school lunch, regional authorities decided to inspect the organization of school meals in educational institutions in Chernivtsi and the region.
Vitaliy Oliinyk posted the photo on Facebook on the evening of September 2.
The government has allocated more than 7.4 billion hryvnia in additional funds to local budgets to provide free meals for schoolchildren, as reported by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
It was previously reported that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine had canceled the 50-percent discount on meals for children in kindergartens for large families. Now they will have to pay 800 hryvnias more per child each month.
As a reminder, on August 20, the Verkhovna Rada amended the law “On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2025” regarding financial support for the security and defense sector and addressing priority issues. Funds were allocated, in particular, for meals for students in grades 1–4 in all regions and for students in grades 5–11 in frontline areas.
