Fukuoka City introduced green tea in place of milk in some junior high school lunches on April 15, but the first implementation revealed significant nutritional shortfalls. About half of the city’s 71 public junior high schools served tea with Japanese-style meals such as grilled mackerel and gameni stew under a new policy to replace milk once a month. The change followed discussions on improving meal quality and aligning drinks with traditional cuisine. However, calcium intake dropped to 211 mg per meal, less than half the city’s standard of 450 mg, while calorie levels fell to 687 kcal, more than 10% below target. Milk typically provides 227 mg of calcium, and substitutes such as small fish and almonds proved insufficient. Internal surveys conducted in 2025 had already highlighted concerns among nutrition staff about maintaining standards without milk. The education board said it will adjust menus and monitor intake over monthly and annual periods while continuing to balance nutrition with food education goals. Source: NHK News / KBC News
Photo: KBC News
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