Children in Mykolaiv are being served food in violation of standards: alarming problems were found in 27 of the 32 schools inspected

Specialists of the Main Department of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection in Mykolaiv Oblast continue to systematically monitor how children’s meals are organized and actually provided in Mykolaiv schools. As part of the latest stage of monitoring, which lasted from 02.03.2026 to 06.03.2026, specialists analyzed photo reports of ready meals from 32 general secondary education institutions in the city.

Based on the analysis of photo reports of ready meals in 27 Mykolaiv schools, specialists of the Main Department of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection in Mykolaiv Oblast identified the following violations:

• Serving rules for ready meals are not followed – in 12 institutions (some dishes are not served in portions);
• Conditions for storage and transportation of ready meals are violated – in 7 institutions (dishes with different storage requirements are transported and served together in lunch boxes);
• The technology of preparing dishes is violated – in 18 institutions (visually the ready meals do not correspond to the appearance specified in the technological cards);
• The approved prospective menu is not followed – in 13 institutions (absence or substitution of certain dishes was detected, as well as a mismatch of the net weight of ready portions with the prescribed norms).

Following the inspection, specialists provided appropriate recommendations to those responsible for organizing meals so that the identified deficiencies are corrected and do not recur. The State Service emphasizes that monitoring of school meals in educational institutions continues. Residents of the oblast were also reminded that in case of comments, suggestions, or any information regarding the organization of meals in educational institutions, they can contact the Main Department of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection in Mykolaiv Oblast in the prescribed manner.

Contact information for inquiries:

Address: Central Avenue, 288, Mykolaiv, 54003. Phones: (0512) 30-43-25, (0512) 30-43-14. Email: dpssmykolayiv@dpssmk.gov.ua

As a reminder, earlier we wrote:

• The first complaints to the bot about school food have already arrived: what is happening in the region’s schools
• A Telegram bot for monitoring school meals is being launched in Mykolaiv Oblast
• The government promises free lunches for schoolchildren: will the “porridge in the rain” story not be repeated in Mykolaiv?
• Food with bacteria for children: in Mykolaiv the catering director was taken into custody
• Revenge for “bacterial catering”: the director of KOP has been arrested in Mykolaiv