Kurdistan region issues lists of approved and banned foods for school cafeterias

ERBIL, August 28 — The Kurdistan region’s Ministry of Education has announced a list of approved — and forbidden — foods and drinks for school cafeterias, with the start of a new academic year in the coming days.

The Directorate General of Education in Erbil issued instructions mandating school canteens provide suitable and healthy food during the 2023-2024 academic year. All schools are required to display food menus as follow:

Prohibited Foods in School Cafeterias:

• Fried food sandwiches (liver, potatoes, meat)
• Grapes
• Energy drinks
• Carbonated beverages
• Gum, chocolate, artificially-colored popcicles
• Instant noodles
• Sumac and citric acid
• Colored popcorn
• Artificially colored potato chips

Permissible Foods:

• Sandwiches containing cucumber, tomato, boiled chicken, boiled egg, boiled potatoes, and falafel, on the condition of not reusing cooking oil
• Fresh fruits
• Dried fruits (banana and apricot), almonds, nuts, and peanuts
• Canned milk
• Milk-based ice cream
• Water, natural juices, tea, coffee, cappuccino
• Biscuits, chocolate, cake, custard, and pastries
• Qamar al-Din (apricot fruit leather)
• Non-colored popcorn, beets, lentils, chickpeas
• Non-colored potato chips
• Rice and stews