Image: Reuters Berita 24 English - Kazumi Sato, a nutritionist at a middle school in eastern Tokyo , has been informed of price increases fo...
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| Image: Reuters |
Berita 24 English - Kazumi Sato, a nutritionist at a middle school in eastern Tokyo, has been informed of price increases for ingredients for months.
Local authorities are reluctant to shift the cost of more expensive school lunches to the kids' families since they are aware of the financial struggles that many of the students' families experience. For Sato, that has meant continuously changing lunchtime menus to keep the kitchen at Senju Aoba Junior High School on a tight budget.
She told Reuters at the school, "I try to include seasonal fruits once or twice a month, but it's tough to do it frequently.
According to Sato, she substitutes jelly or a sliver of homemade cake for fresh fruit, which is costly in Japan. She has started using a lot of bean sprouts as a cheap substitute whenever possible, but she is concerned that if costs continue to rise, she may run out of options.
She stated, "I don't want to let the kids down with what they would see as a depressing supper.
In Japan, a nation not used to sharp price increases, inflation is becoming a more contentious political topic, and many households are feeling the pinch.
Rising food costs have an impact on schools, which are a crucial source of nutrition for Japanese families with lower incomes.
According to Sato, the cost of an 18-litre (4.8-gallon) can of cooking oil has increased by 1,750 yen ($12.85) in the past year, while the cost of onions has doubled. There is only so much dietitians can do before schools are compelled to raise fees on families due to the government's strict dietary requirements for public schools.
Because they are aware that impoverished families may forgo nourishing meals at home, authorities seek to prevent that. Teachers and government officials claim that some kids have a noticeable weight loss when they return to school after the summer break.
Public middle school lunches in Tokyo's Adachi ward cost 334 yen, of which 303 yen is paid for the families.
The national government said in April that it will offer money to schools to help cover some of the increased expenses of meals as part of relief initiatives. Adachi ward intends to use those as well as its own surplus funds to reduce the strain on families.
But Sato is concerned about the possibility of more increases in energy and food prices, particularly as the school year comes to an end and the budgeted funds start to run low.
This year, the rainy season ended sooner, so veggies may be significantly impacted, she said. "I'm concerned about the price environment for the upcoming fall and beyond."
($1 = 136.1500 yen)
