Although we are in season of fruit and vegetables, these products are actually excluded in the kindergarten menus.

This conclusion was made by specialists of the Municipal Public Health Center, resulting from several checks carried out in the institutions of Chisinau. Moreover, they found that the menu is very poor quality and children are fed more with porridge and buckwheat.

The lack of fruit and vegetables in the children's menu was also convinced by our shooting team, who made an unannounced visit to a kindergarten in Râşcani district of Chisinau, even while the children were having lunch. However, the situation was explained by the director of the institution:

"Last week we offered kids salad and fresh cucumbers as well as salad from fresh cucumbers. Now we received apples and plums from which we made juice," said Silvia Gumeniuc, the kindergarten director.

However, we did not even find fruit and vegetables in the warehouse. Fresh products have later reached the kindergarten in about 30 minutes:

"We order (fruits and vegetables) on Monday so as to get the fresh ones. If it brings us early, in the morning, we can prepare in time for lunch, otherwise, we have to save them for next meal".

In another kindergarten, in the Poşta Veche district, the situation seemed better.

"Every week we have apples, plums or peaches. If we do not have vegetables, then we give the children natural juice," explained Tatiana Năstas, cook of kindergarten.

From September 1st, the menu of new school and kindergarten will become mandatory. Accordingly, it includes fresh fruit and vegetables every day and at least twice a week meat and fish. Until now, the menu developed by the Ministry of Health is just a recommendation.