Policy and Guidelines on Healthy Food and Beverage Choices in Schools and in DepEd Offices

March 14, 2017

DO 13, s. 2017

Policy and Guidelines on Healthy Food and Beverage Choices in Schools and in DepEd Offices

To:      Undersecretaries
           Assistant Secretaries
           Bureau and Service Directors
           Regional Directors
           Schools Division Superintendents
           Public and Private Elementary and Secondary Schools Heads
           All Others Concerned

1. For the information and guidance of all concerned, the Department of Education (DepEd) issues the enclosed Policy and Guidelines on Healthy Food and Beverage Choices in Schools and in DepEd Offices for the promotion and development of healthy eating habits among the youth and DepEd employees by making available healthy, nutritious, and affordable menu choices, and for setting food standards.

2. The Policy and Guidelines aim to:

1.  make available healthier food and beverage choices among the learners and DepEd personnel and their stakeholders;
2. introduce a system of categorizing locally available foods and drinks in accordance with geographical, cultural, and religious orientations;
3. provide guidance in evaluating and categorizing foods and drinks; and
4. provide guidance in the selling and marketing of foods and beverages in schools and DepEd offices, including the purchasing of foods for school feeding.

3. DepEd Order No. 8, s. 2007  entitled Revised Implementing Guidelines on the Operation and Management of School Canteens in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools Policy Statements Nos. 4.4, 4.5, and 4.6 are modified accordingly by this issuance.

4. This Order shall take effect immediately upon publication on DepEd Website.

5. Immediate dissemination of and strict compliance with this Order is directed.

(Sgd)LEONOR MAGTOLIS BRIONES
Secretary

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
CHANGE
EMPLOYEES
HEALTH EDUCATION
LEARNERS
POLICY
RULES AND REGULATIONS
SCHOOLS

Source: Deped