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School lunches in Zhytomyr have come under widespread criticism: The State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection has responded

UA NEWS 09 September 2026 10:44
School lunches in Zhytomyr have come under widespread criticism: The State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection has responded

A photo of a school lunch—which, according to the post’s authors, was served to students at one of Zhytomyr’s high schools—is being actively discussed on social media. Amid the discussion, users began posting their own photos of school meals en masse and sharing their experiences with their children’s meals at various schools in the city.

 

The post quickly sparked a lively discussion. It currently has over a thousand comments.

The photo shows a white plastic container with separate compartments in which the school lunch was served. One compartment contains a portion of a side dish that looks like stewed or boiled grains or legumes in sauce. There is also a piece of meat, as well as a slice of tomato and a slice of cucumber. A slice of white bread lies separately in the container.

Photos of similar lunches were shared on social media to demonstrate the actual state of school meals in the Zhytomyr region. In particular, Vita Polikovska confirmed in a comment to “Glavkom” that this is exactly what students are served at Lyceum No. 19. At the same time, she noted that the children themselves like this menu.

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In addition, Tetiana Andrusevych also confirmed the details regarding meals at Lyceum No. 19. On social media, she noted that the published photos fully reflect the actual situation in the school cafeteria.

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At the same time, there are also opposing comments. Yulia Polishchuk posted photos of meals from Lyceum No. 23. According to her, children may choose not to eat certain dishes based on their personal preferences, but overall the food looks appetizing, and the menu varies daily.

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“Everything looks quite appetizing and is different every day,” she wrote, adding that the quality of the food may depend on the specific cafeteria and the staff who prepare the meals there.

The Main Directorate of the State Food and Consumer Service in Zhytomyr Oblast responded to the situation. They urged parents who have concerns about the quality, safety, or organization of school meals to contact the directorate.

The agency noted that such reports give specialists the opportunity to review specific situations and, within the scope of their authority, take appropriate action. “Safe and high-quality meals for children is an issue that must be given constant attention,” the State Food and Consumer Service emphasized.

Source: Glavkom

As a reminder, schools for children from the Kherson region have opened in Kryvyi Rih.

Ukrainian schoolchildren from rural areas lag significantly behind their peers from large cities in terms of academic achievement. According to the PISA-2025 results, the gap between them in certain subjects is equivalent to more than three years of schooling.

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