SPD Proposes Free School Lunches for All Students in Germany

The initiative, inspired by a citizens' council recommendation, aims to improve health and social equity while addressing funding challenges.

The SPD plans to introduce free school lunches for all students from first grade to high school after the Bundestag elections.
The proposal follows recommendations from a Bundestag citizens' council on nutrition policy, which prioritized universal free meals in schools and daycare centers.
SPD General Secretary Matthias Miersch emphasized that the program could reduce health-related economic costs by addressing issues like childhood obesity.
The initiative also seeks to promote social integration and equity through shared meals, which Miersch described as a fundamental societal value.
Funding for the program is expected to primarily come from the federal government, with costs estimated in the billions, though exact figures and implementation details are still being finalized.