School meal budgets fail to keep up with inflation, leaving students with less food

School meal funding in Sweden has not kept pace with rising costs, with budgets increasing by less than half the rate of inflation since 2022, an investigation by public broadcaster SVT reveals. After adjusting for inflation, spending per student has dropped by 3 kronor (about €0.26) per school day—meaning less money is now allocated for meals than two years ago.

At Ellen Key School in Västervik, students report food shortages and smaller portions, leaving some hungry during classes. “Almost once a week, the food runs out,” said Sixten, a ninth-grade student. Classmate Joel added that poor meals affect concentration: “I get headaches, and the class gets rowdier when the food isn’t good.”

SVT’s analysis of national data shows the average cost per meal peaked in 2022 at 48.20 kronor (€4.20) per student per day. By 2024, adjusted for inflation, that figure fell to 45 kronor (€3.90)—a real-terms cut. With nearly 200 million school meals served annually, the total savings for municipalities and independent schools between 2022 and 2024 amount to 643 million kronor (€56 million).

Fewer options, more vegetarian meals

To cut costs, schools have reduced menu variety. In Västervik, the number of daily dishes was trimmed, though the municipality’s food service chief, Gina Svensson, insisted quality remains unchanged. “We’ve adjusted the menu—fewer dishes served simultaneously—but maintained standards,” she told SVT.

Nationally, the National Food Agency (Livsmedelsverket) has not observed a decline in meal quality, but cost pressures have forced tough choices, said dietitian Emelie Elin. “Many municipalities struggle with rising expenses. Prioritizing Swedish-sourced meat and high-quality ingredients means compensating with cheaper alternatives elsewhere,” she explained, noting that vegetarian options are often less expensive.

At Ellen Key School, mentor Steve Johansson said students grow frustrated when popular dishes like meatballs or schnitzel sell out, leaving only sides like mashed potatoes. “When so many buy candy and energy drinks instead, it’s worrying,” he said.

The funding gap stems from a mismatch between budget increases (10.8% since 2022) and inflation (18.8%), compounded by a growing student population. SVT’s calculations, based on data from the Swedish National Agency for Education and Statistics Sweden, account for broader cost drivers like wages, transport, and facilities—not just food prices.