New School Nutrition Rules from September and Mandatory HPV Vaccinations from 2027

Polish schools are facing significant systemic changes affecting the health of the youngest citizens. Health Minister Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda informed the public about the upcoming amendment of the regulation concerning nutrition in educational institutions. The new regulations, which will take effect on September 1, 2026, precisely define the list of products permitted for sale. School shops and vending machines will include items such as sandwiches, salads, and dark chocolate, while simultaneously introducing strict limits on sugar content in beverages. The reform aims to eliminate highly processed food from students' diets. A significant point of public debate has become the temporarily withdrawn ban on coffee sales in schools. Although initial plans assumed the complete removal of coffee vending machines, strong resistance and the need to refine the regulations meant this provision was not included in the final version of the document. However, Minister Sobierańska-Grenda emphasized that the ministry has not abandoned this idea. According to her, the ministry must be resistant to the actions of lobbyists and plans to revisit this ban in cooperation with the Ministry of National Education, arguing that excessive caffeine consumption is harmful to youth development. Since 2023, Poland has operated a program of free, voluntary HPV vaccinations, which initially covered teenagers aged 12 and 13. The HPV virus is the main cause of cervical cancer. Another groundbreaking decision is the change in status of vaccinations against the HPV virus. From 2027, this vaccine will be included in the mandatory vaccination schedule for children aged 9 to 15. The obligation will first apply to children born in 2018. The government anticipates that this decision may face opposition from anti-vaccination groups, therefore planning a large-scale information campaign. The health ministry maintains that only the universality of vaccinations will allow for effective cancer prevention nationwide. „Być może było za wcześnie. Będziemy próbować ponownie.” (Perhaps it was too early. We will try again.) — Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda 2027 — year of introduction of mandatory HPV vaccinations Changes in School Assortment: Sweetened Beverages: No strict limits → Strict sugar content restrictions; Coffee in Vending Machines: Available without restrictions → Temporarily permitted, planned ban; Snacks: Commercial sweets → Selected products, e.g., dark chocolate