Dl Sostegni Bis, Oricon: ‘Well fund 100 million for canteens now recognize value in schools’

A 100 million euro fund has been approved for collective catering companies, among the amendments to the Sostegni Bis decree being examined by the Budget Committee of the Chamber. The measure was positively received by companies in the sector, among those most penalized by the pandemic due to the closures of schools and offices (and which have not benefited from any refreshments in the past months). Now, however, the Oricon president, Carlo Scarsciotti warns, a reflection is needed on the social role, as well as nutritional, of this service which must fully become part of the “school system”, especially with a view to extending full school time and consequently the canteens of 1,000 schools by 2026 provided for in the Pnrr. “The public procurement system as designed today for school canteens does not reward the quality of the offer, the professionalism of the workers, the sustainability of the food and tools used – concludes Scarsciotti -. For the intrinsic value that the moment of meal covers it is important to invest to improve the comfort of the canteen places, guarantee the continuous training of staff and ensure how the indications contained in the Cam (Minimum Environmental Criteria) can be combined with the availability of food products in the reference area and with the use of technologies available today, for example the blockchain, which allow to certify and monitor in an accessible and transparent way all information on traceability, from production to consumption “.