About 75% of the children in rural areas are sick. The gastro-intestinal diseases are most spread among children, said Minister of Health Ruxanda Glavan. According to her, this is a signal warning about a problem related to the feeding of children in nurseries and schools and at home too, IPN reports.

The minister told a news conference that the menus in education institutions are outdated and contain dishes with processed meat, pasta and sugar in excess. “Our concern is supported by the multiple complaints from parents and specialists in child nutrition,” stated Ruxanda Glavan.

She noted that to remedy the situation, the quantity of fruit, vegetables and grains integrated into food should be increased in education institutions. The content of fats and sugar in food should be limited, while water consumption and physical effort should be stimulated. Standard-menus for each season would be worked out during the next two months.

In the news conference, Ruxanda Glavan signed an order by which the inclusion of meat products with food additives, including sausages, in the menu of education institutions is banned.

Director of the National Public Health Center Iurie Panzaru said the assessment of the nutritional status of the children in 2013-2015 showed that these didn’t get about 20-40% of the necessities of meat, fish, eggs and milk products. “The examination of the quality of menus showed that first dish is prepared with water and grains and is thickened by adding roasted sunflower oil, tomato paste and onion,” he stated.

Iurie Panzaru also said that they examined the sausages sold in stores and established that these contain large quantities of phosphate. “The limit of nitrites is 50 milligrams, but the sausages intended for children contained a larger quantity of nitrites than other types of sausages,” he said. According to him, these types of sausages for children do not meet Moldova’s legislation.