The news in Hungarian
A magyar iskolákban új szabályok lesznek az étkezésekre. 2024. február 9-től nem adnak mogyorót, dióféléket és szezámmagot tartalmazó ételeket. Ez az allergiás gyerekek biztonsága érdekében történt. Ezen kívül a szabályok korlátozzák a zsíros húsokat és az édes italokat, hogy egészségesebb legyen az étkezés.
Translation
From 9th February 2024, new rules will be implemented in Hungarian schools regarding meals. Foods containing peanuts, nuts, and sesame seeds will no longer be served, aiming to ensure the safety of children with allergies. Additionally, the rules will limit fatty meats and sugary drinks to promote healthier eating habits.
Exercise: Text comprehension
Question 1: When will the new food rules in Hungarian schools start?
The new food rules will start on February 9, 2024.
Question 2: Why were foods containing nuts and sesame seeds removed from the menus?
They were removed for the safety of children with allergies.
Exercise: Vocabulary
Read the full story
▌13/11/2024
A recent amendment to the 2014 EMMI regulation, announced in the Magyar Közlöny, will see the elimination of several allergenic ingredients from Hungarian public catering services, including school canteens. Starting 9 February, food items containing peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame seeds will no longer be served in state-run educational institutions.
This decision aims to enhance safety for approximately 40,000 children in Hungary who suffer from food allergies. Of these, about 20,000 face potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reactions, particularly to peanuts, which may occur even from minimal contact. Many experts have advocated for this change, arguing these common allergens can be replaced with alternative ingredients on school menus.
Hungary Removes Allergy-Inducing Foods from School Menus (Illustration)
Remarkably, since September 2022, one of Hungary's largest catering companies, the HunGast Group, had already begun the process of removing these allergens from their offerings, anticipating this regulatory change.
In addition to allergen removal, the regulation also imposes restrictions on other dietary elements. Children aged 1 to 3 years will no longer receive meat products with more than 23% fat content. Additionally, sugary drinks and beverages containing sweeteners are banned, limiting children to fruit juices in compliance with the Magyar Élelmiszerkönyv.
The move has been welcomed by the Anafilaxiás Allergiásokért Egyesület (AAE), whose spokesperson, Janklovics Natasa, highlighted the increased safety for both diagnosed and undiagnosed allergic cases. Moreover, this decision is expected to alleviate anxiety among educators, as the risk of severe allergic reactions in educational settings becomes significantly reduced.
Info: 'Hungarian Learner News' is a service from 'Let's Learn Hungarian', a language school dedicated to helping individuals master Hungarian. We offer various types of Hungarian lessons online to suit different learning needs and preferences.
