Home / Education / P.E.I. School Food Policy Gets Major Overhaul
P.E.I. School Food Policy Gets Major Overhaul
7 Feb
Summary
- New policy aims to improve student nutrition based on a 2024 audit.
- Most P.E.I. schools failed to meet previous food guidelines.
- Updated policy seeks to support academic and health outcomes for students.
A comprehensive new food policy is being developed for Prince Edward Island students, following a 2024 audit that found significant non-compliance with existing provincial guidelines in most schools. The auditor general's report prompted the Department of Education and Early Years to create an updated policy.
Margaret Young, project co-ordinator, stated the new draft policy aims to support students' learning, academic achievement, and overall health. It also focuses on fostering positive relationships with food, emphasizing inclusion and cultural diversity.
The previous policy was based on an outdated version of Canada's Food Guide. The updated approach acknowledges that one-third of P.E.I. students under 18 face food insecurity. The policy seeks to ensure programs like school breakfast and the pay-what-you-can School Food Program are accessible without stigma.
Feedback is currently being gathered on the draft policy, which does not dictate food brought from home but does apply to school fundraisers. Further consultations will follow before the policy is finalized.
