Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41958245›Full record

ArticlePublic health nutrition2026

Optimising school meals in Ghana: integrating new food and nutrient standards with aspects of affordability, cultural acceptability and environmental sustainability.

Patricia Eustachio Colombo, Alexandr Parlesak, Gloria Folson, Boateng Bannerman, Audrey Anang-Tetteh, Gabriel Ador, Lois Ackah-Swanzy, Melissa Vargas, Richmond Aryeetey, Aulo Gelli

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Public health nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Patricia Eustachio ColomboCentre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, https://ror.org/00a0jsq62London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Department of Population Health, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-8505-116X
Alexandr ParlesakInstitute of Nutrition, Exercise, and Sports (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Gloria FolsonDepartment of Nutrition, University of Ghana Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Ghana.
Boateng BannermanDepartment of Nutrition, University of Ghana Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Ghana.
Audrey Anang-TettehDepartment of Nutrition, University of Ghana Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Ghana.
Gabriel AdorDepartment of Nutrition, University of Ghana Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Ghana.
Lois Ackah-SwanzyDepartment of Nutrition, University of Ghana Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Ghana.
Melissa VargasFAO, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5865-7468
Richmond AryeeteySchool of Public Health, University of Ghana, Ghana.ORCID 0000-0003-4667-592X
Aulo GelliPoverty, Health and Nutrition, International Food Policy Research Institute, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-4977-2549

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo optimise school food baskets in Ghana to meet newly proposed food and nutrition targets while considering cultural acceptability and cost.

designThis was a modelling study. Data on existing school meal menus were collected from various regions to provide baseline inputs. Linear programming (LP) was used to model school meal baskets that satisfied minimum nutrient and food targets for school meals while meeting cost and acceptability constraints. Five LP models were tested, each varying in budget constraints and acceptability/food-based parameters.

settingGhana.

participantsNA.

resultsBaseline school food baskets were significantly deficient in energy, protein, Fe, Zn, vitamin A, folate, vitamin B

conclusionThe study underscores LP's potential for enhancing school meals in Ghana but highlights the need for increased financial investment for reaching dietary goals. Addressing local realities and cultural preferences is essential for implementing effective, sustainable school meal strategies and improving child health.

Indexed as

DietFood ServicesFood SupplyMealsNutritive ValueSchoolsChildGhanaHumansNutrition PolicyChild nutritionFood-based recommendationsFood securityFood sustainabilityPublic procurementSchool food basket

Identifiers

PMID41958245
PMCPMC13434488

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.