Cumulative evidence shows that people with lower socioeconomic status (SES) have higher risk of mortality and non-communicable diseases, which are strongly related to diet. A low diet quality may be related to a rise in chronic non-communicable diseases from childhood onward. This literature review summarizes the food assistance for reducing health disparities among children in Japan. The school lunch program in Japan is important for achieving adequate nutrient intakes in schoolchildren and reducing disparities of adequate nutrient intake by household income levels. Additionally, the number of children's cafeterias, contributing to the support of children suffering from poverty by providing free or low-cost meals in a comfortable environment, as well as being bases for multi-generational community communication, and where local children and adults eat together, has rapidly increased. Those who with lower SES tended to use food supports, such as the children's cafeteria, as well as food pantries and emergency home food deliveries, during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be necessary to establish a public-private system that can provide information on local food assistance to people whose socioeconomic status has changed rapidly.
Keywords: COVID-19; children’s cafeteria; food assistance; food pantry; school lunch.