ANIR Confindustria defines ‘Public Food’ as essential welfare service

ANIR Confindustria has introduced the term ‘Public Food’ to describe the essential welfare function provided by collective catering in schools, hospitals, and workplaces. This service is viewed as a critical infrastructure that impacts health, inclusion, education, and daily quality of life by ensuring food safety, nutritional adequacy, and accessibility.

The topic is set to be a primary theme at the IMMENSE 2026 event in Rome. In educational settings, school meals are considered an integral part of the learning experience, supporting full-time schooling and providing practical food education. This aligns with the European Child Guarantee, which aims to ensure at least one healthy meal per school day for children at risk of poverty.

However, access to these services remains unequal in Italy. Data from Save the Children and the Observatory on Italian Public Accounts indicated that during the 2021-2022 school year, only 55.2 percent of primary school students had access to a canteen. Disparities are driven by municipal resources, family tariffs, and the availability of full-time programs, highlighting the need for sustained investment in personnel, raw materials, and infrastructure to combat social inequality.