School canteens still struggle to keep junk out

KUALA LUMPUR, 27 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian School Canteen Operators Association says government guidelines banning junk food in schools are being widely disregarded, with prohibited items entering canteens through external stalls, teacher sales and school cooperatives that operate in violation of a 2013 ministry circular.

The regulations bar sweets and chocolate, pickled food high in salt and acid, junk food, processed food, energy drinks, isotonic drinks, flavoured drinks, carbonated drinks and fruit juice containing less than 35 per cent fruit content. Khairuddin said menus prescribed by the Education Ministry, including the Supplementary Food Programme, have their nutritional content assessed by the Health Ministry to meet the needs of primary school pupils.

The same applies to the NutriSel food programme in Selangor, where food is prepared in accordance with Health Ministry guidelines.

For food sold on a cash basis, canteen operators are free to sell any items provided they do not breach the 12 prohibitions. However, Khairuddin said prohibited food and beverages are still freely brought into some schools by other parties. Stalls outside schools are a major contributor to the problem, he said, with fast food sold outside school premises without proper monitoring.

Pupils buy these items, bring them into the school and consume them in the canteen, creating the appearance that the canteen itself is providing the prohibited products.

The situation is compounded by internal sales. Some teachers and even pupils take the opportunity to sell such food at school, Khairuddin said. This further blurs responsibility and undermines the regulatory framework. In addition, some schools allow their cooperatives to sell food and beverages that contravene the regulations, despite an Education Ministry circular issued in 2013 prohibiting school cooperatives from selling any form of food or beverages.

Khairuddin said that although the Health Ministry and Education Ministry have established various guidelines and regulations, enforcement is focused solely on school canteens. District Health Office officers only inspect the canteens even when the cooperative located next to the canteen is openly breaching various regulations. This selective oversight leaves a significant gap in the policy’s implementation.

Dr Nor Baizura Md Yusop of Universiti Putra Malaysia was also cited in the report regarding the school canteen environment.