School feeding programs face logistical and nutritional challenges

In Argentina, the Federation of School Cooperatives of Santa Fe has reported a significant increase in demand for school meal services and milk programs. Ivana Pintos, a representative of the federation, stated that some students are arriving at school suffering from hunger-related ailments. The current provincial government subsidies for meals and milk are facing pressure due to inflation, with Pintos noting that the cost of milk leaves little margin for other menu items. The demand for these services has expanded from peripheral neighborhoods to central, long-standing educational institutions.

In the Dominican Republic, approximately 20 educational centers in the Santiago province have rejected pasteurized milk provided for school breakfasts. Amalfi Suárez, a director at the National Institute of Student Welfare (Inabie), explained that these schools lack the refrigeration necessary to store pasteurized milk, which requires cooling unlike UHT milk. While suppliers have expressed willingness to provide refrigeration equipment, officials are meeting with directors and suppliers to determine a permanent solution. The issue is primarily concentrated in San José de las Matas, Santiago Este, and Santiago Oeste, though school lunches remain unaffected.