As the world marked International School Meals Day, new research from FoodForward SA highlighted the scale of child hunger in South Africa and the critical role school meals play in education outcomes and social development.
FoodForward SA’s State of Household Food Insecurity in South Africa Report 2026 found that nearly 70% of households surveyed experience moderate-to-severe food insecurity, while one in four live in severely food-insecure conditions, often going an entire day without eating. Children remain at the centre of the crisis, with most living in moderately food-insecure homes and one-third facing severe hunger. Many adults report skipping meals so children or partners can eat, while 77.8% say they have had difficult conversations with children about food shortages.
“You cannot expect a child to focus on learning when hunger is part of their daily reality,” said Andy du Plessis, Managing Director of FoodForward SA. “This is not occasional hardship — it is ongoing. Consistent school meals, especially breakfast, are essential for learning, development and dignity.”
Against this backdrop, the partnership between FoodForward SA and Mars through the Breakfast for Better Days programme continues to deliver measurable impact. Now in its 12th year, the initiative provides daily fortified cereal to learners at vulnerable schools across South Africa, supporting both nutrition and classroom readiness.
Since 2014, the programme has delivered more than 62 million meals and currently supports 35 000 children across 50 schools in four provinces: Gauteng (8 000 learners across 10 schools), KwaZulu-Natal (15 000 across 25 schools) and the Eastern Cape (12 000 across 15 schools). FoodForward SA manages implementation through its logistics, warehousing, transport and distribution systems to ensure consistent delivery.
For Mars, the programme forms part of its global Better Days Promise, which aims to improve food security and positively impact four billion people by 2030 through school feeding and community-based initiatives.
“Through our Better Days™ Promise, we are committed to alleviating school hunger because a child cannot learn on an empty stomach,” said Zandile Mposelwa, Corporate Affairs Director South Africa at Mars. “By partnering with FoodForward SA, we help create better days for those who need it most.”
FoodForward SA and Mars are calling on businesses, donors and communities to strengthen support for school nutrition programmes as practical, scalable solutions to child hunger and education inequality. For Social TV audiences, the findings highlight the intersection of food security, education outcomes and shared value partnerships in driving sustainable social impact.
For more information or to support FoodForward SA, visit www.foodforwardsa.org.
