Spain approves decree limiting fried and precooked food in hospitals and schools

What the decree covers

The Council of Ministers approved the royal decree on Tuesday, 3 November. The text was pushed forward by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda, working with the ministries of Agriculture, Health, Education, and Youth and Children. It covers hospitals, residential care centres and early-childhood schools for children aged 0 to 3, whether public or private, along with public libraries, universities and museums. The rules restrict precooked dishes, fried food and items high in saturated fat, added sugar or added salt. The decree builds on the Royal Decree on Healthy and Sustainable School Canteens approved in 2025, which the consumer ministry also drove. According to the ministry, the aim is to improve food in these centres by following that earlier model.

Portion limits for precooked and fried food

Precooked dishes may be served no more than three times a month in residences for older or dependent people and in hospitals. Hospitals may serve minors only one precooked portion a month, the same frequency set for early-childhood schools. Fried foods are capped at two portions a week. In hospitals and early-childhood schools, menus aimed at children and adolescents must leave out foods high in saturated fat, added sugar or added salt. The stricter criteria for children's menus aim to give children special protection in food matters, which makes the hospital and nursery rules for minors the most tightly restricted part of the decree.

Fresh produce, organic food and supervision

The decree sets stricter quality and sustainability criteria for fruit and vegetables served in these centres. At least 90% of the fruit and at least 30% of the vegetables must be fresh. The text also gives legumes, fish and products made with whole grains a larger presence on menus, and at least 25% of foods must be organically produced. Meals must be supervised by nutrition and dietetics professionals and adapted to each age group and to the special needs of users. Residences and hospitals will also carry out nutritional screening to detect malnutrition.

Fresh fruit, minimum share90%

Fresh vegetables, minimum share30%

Organic food, minimum share25%

Healthy vending items, required share70%

Fresh fruit, minimum share

90 %

Fresh vegetables, minimum share

30 %

Organic food, minimum share

25 %

Healthy vending items, required share

70 %

Data from the article text

Vending machines

The decree also regulates the products sold in vending machines installed in the centres it covers. At least 70% of the food and drinks offered must be healthy and placed in the most visible rows. Sugary and energy drinks are restricted in these machines. For hot coffee machines, the default must be 0 grams of added sugar, with up to 5 grams allowed on a voluntary basis. The vending rules sit alongside the meal rules, so the same hospitals and centres face both sets of limits.