Canada's school food program needs more funding, healthier food and a Buy Canadian approach

Proper funding, nutrition standards aligned with Canada's Food Guide and procurement that prioritizes Canadian farmers can deliver healthier school meals and strengthen the Canadian economy.

OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 22, 2026 /CNW/ -- As Ottawa uses public spending to protect Canadian industries and strengthen domestic supply chains amid the trade war, a new report says greater investment in school food could improve what children eat while creating reliable new markets for Canadian farmers and food producers.

Feeding to Nourishing: Improving Nutrition and Quality as the New National School Food Program Scales examines the next phase of Canada's expanding school food system and identifies gaps in funding, nutritional quality and consistency that could limit its impact.

Students with lunch trays. Photo: New Africa

The report calls for greater and more predictable funding, clearer nutrition standards aligned with Canada's Food Guide, and greater use of Canadian procurement to help close those gaps while strengthening domestic food supply chains.

"Governments are looking at every tool available to protect Canadian industries and build stronger domestic markets. School food should be one of them," said Colin Saravanamuttoo, Executive Director, World Animal Protection Canada. "We already know this system needs greater investment. We can make that investment work twice as hard by improving the food we serve children while creating reliable new demand for healthy food grown and processed here in Canada."

Drawing on research, interviews with experts and stakeholders, and analysis of federal-provincial and territorial agreements and provincial action plans, the report found that many programs continue to rely heavily on donations, volunteers and fundraising, often leaving schools and parents to fill the gaps. The result is inconsistent and often ad hoc program delivery, rather than a clear and consistent approach guided by the nutrition recommendations in Canada's Food Guide.

"These findings are a roadmap for the program's next phase," said Nital Jethalal, Executive Director, Institute for Future Food Systems. "Programs have done remarkable work with very little. More funding is essential, but schools also need clear nutrition standards and support to meet them. Provinces can start this work now while future federal funding agreements could fund improvements and ensure children have access to consistently nutritious food, regardless of where they live."

Better nutrition and Buy Canadian can go hand in hand

Canada produces many of the healthy foods that are missing from school menus. Pulses such as beans and lentils are important sources of plant-based protein and fibre and are grown at scale in Canada. But much of what Canada grows leaves the country before being processed into the affordable, ready-to-serve products schools need.

Expanding domestic processing could help close that gap while strengthening Canadian food manufacturing and supply chains. Federal investments in processing, food hubs and shared infrastructure are beginning to build that capacity, but more is needed to meet the needs of a growing National School Food Program.

"Plant-based proteins are one of the biggest gaps between what schools are serving and what Canada's Food Guide recommends," said Lynn Kavanagh, Farming Campaign Manager, World Animal Protection Canada. "Smarter investment and procurement can help get more of the healthy food we grow onto school menus while creating reliable demand for Canadian producers. That means better nutrition for children, more opportunities for farmers and regional producers, and a stronger domestic food system."

The report calls for school food investment to support Canadian and local procurement of nutritious foods aligned with Canada's Food Guide, including vegetables, whole grains, beans, lentils and peas. But procurement alone is not enough: healthier school food also requires adequate and predictable funding for food, paid staff, kitchens, equipment, storage, transportation and nutrition expertise.

The report calls on governments to:

• Provide adequate, flexible and predictable funding to deliver healthier school food to a minimum of $5.00 per student per day;
• Embed Canada's Food Guide into practical menus and purchasing decisions;
• Use funding to advance Canadian and local sourcing of nutritious food aligned with Canada's Food Guide, alongside price, reliability and cultural suitability; and
• Work with provincial, territorial and Indigenous leaders toward shared nutrition standards while preserving regional flexibility, using Canada's Food Guide as the guiding principle.

"The status quo is simply not sustainable," concluded Saravanamuttoo. "Schools need the funding, staff and infrastructure to actually put that food on the plate. The next phase of the program is an opportunity to close those gaps and use that investment to strengthen the Canadian food economy at the same time."

About World Animal Protection Canada

World Animal Protection is an international animal welfare organization with 75 years of experience working to improve the lives of animals worldwide. In Canada, our work supporting healthier, more sustainable food systems includes longstanding engagement with the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC), collaboration with farmers and the agricultural sector, and advocacy with governments, retailers, restaurants and the financial sector to improve animal welfare and drive meaningful change. This includes increasing the production and consumption of plant-based foods, advancing higher-welfare food choices, and supporting innovative solutions that benefit animals, farmers, people and the planet. Our Canadian work draws on international collaboration and expertise, including work with the Danish government to advance plant-based foods and sustainable food systems, alongside engagement with partners across the European Union.

About Institute for Future Food Systems

The Institute for Future Food Systems (IFFS) is an independent non-profit that works with the networks, organizations and individuals best positioned to turn intelligence into action. Food systems change is one of the most under-leveraged solutions to today's health, climate and economic crises. IFFS works to make the strongest evidence and best practices easier to see, act on and spread.

SOURCE World Animal Protection

Media contact: Kari Vierimaa, Vierimaa Consulting, 416.578.0488, [email protected]; Beth Sharpe, World Animal Protection Canada, [email protected]