MISSISSAUGA, ON — The Government of Canada has announced it will invest $1 billion over the next five years to establish a national school lunch program. Canadian meat processor Maple Leaf Foods has announced its support for investments to expand existing school lunch programs and reach an additional 400,000 children across the country.
“Maple Leaf Foods and the Maple Leaf Food Safety Center are excited and grateful that the federal government has acted on its commitment to create a National School Lunch Program.” Maple Leaf Food Safety said Sarah Stern, executive director of the center.
Founded in 2016, the Maple Leaf Center for Food Security is a registered charity committed to working collaboratively to reduce food insecurity in Canada by 50% by 2030. The center advocates for important public policies and invests in knowledge building and programs that advance sustainable food. safety.
Maple Leaf said the center has directly funded more than 30 projects across the country and committed more than $13 million to increase access to good food.
“Food insecurity is at crisis level in Canada, with one in four children living in a food insecure household,” Stern added. “Food security is the foundation of health and dignity, as well as academic, social and economic potential. Historically, Canada has been the only country among the G7 countries without a national school lunch program. “This leadership and action on the part of the federal government will address this failure and further strengthen the social network so that more children in Canada have the potential to learn and succeed.”
Maple Leaf will continue to work with school food experts, states, territories, and the federal government to establish healthy meal programs in each school.
