Viral post comparing Malaysian and South Korean school meals raises questions about nutrition standards
FOOD served in Malaysian school canteens, especially in public schools, has been the subject of debate over the past few years.
While canteens typically serve local favourites such as fried rice and nasi lemak, students are often also offered a range of deep-fried, processed foods, such as nuggets, prompting concerns among parents.
A recent viral Threads post reignited the discussion on canteen food in public schools after a Malaysian woman shared another post showing meals prepared in a South Korean secondary school canteen.
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Comparisons between the nutritional value of the food served in both countries raised the question of when Malaysian public schools would be able to provide similar meals.
Netizens weighed in, sharing their perspectives and experiences regarding canteen food served not only in local public schools but also in international schools in Malaysia.
Some raised concerns about how corruption allegedly affects the quality and nutritional value of canteen food, citing the exploitation of loopholes that deprive students of access to healthy, well-balanced meals.
Another user claimed that canteen food in certain international schools does not match the high fees paid by parents.
Meanwhile, others pointed out that better-quality canteen food could be provided if parents were more involved.
“Parents already complain about paying the RM60 PIBG fee — this kind of canteen food is not free,” one user said.
“Not possible. Parents will complain to the school, saying their children cannot eat certain foods, so schools end up serving fries and nuggets only,” another commented.
Another netizen explained that school hours in South Korea are longer, with classes running from morning until night, compared to Malaysia, which may explain why such meals can be provided.
Others were of the view that healthy eating begins at home, urging parents to be more proactive in managing their children’s diets and to prepare nutritious meals for school instead of relying solely on schools.
