It is about an EU program with financial compensation to schools that distribute and teach about fruit and vegetables during school hours, a total of around SEK 1.5 billion per year. Sweden has received close to SEK 35 million in a preliminary budget, but has chosen not to apply for the support.
Education Minister Lotta Edholm (L) points out to SVT that it is “the responsibility of the municipality or the principal to ensure that the children at school get the food they need”.
The Ministry of Rural Affairs and Infrastructure writes in an email to SVT Nyheter that the question of participating in the EU’s school fruit subsidy was tested a few years ago.
“Then they chose not to join as the administration in relation to the limited budget was judged to be too extensive,” writes the department.
“It is very strange that Sweden has chosen not to use it, given the low consumption of fruit we have,” says Elin Ramfalk, public health strategist at the Cancer Foundation, to SVT Nyheter.