Universiade 2023: How is the nutrition of participants organized in Germany?

The organizers of the Universiade, held in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany, provide meals for more than 9,200 participants and delegations, as well as more than 10,000 volunteers.

Idman.biz's employee seconded to Germany reports that a team of 15 experts, led by Marina Batysh-Winter, Head of Food and Beverage, is responsible for all stages of catering.

She said they are ready to provide approximately 200,000 portions of food throughout the tournament: "To make this possible, the organizing committee has involved approximately 12 catering companies from various parts of the region. Each is responsible for its share of the total volume, according to its capabilities and geographical location. We can imagine the feeding process as a pie - each catering center is responsible for its part."

Menus are prepared in accordance with the main nutrition recommendations of the International University Sports Federation (FISU). Each lunch menu – including for the Azerbaijani delegation – offers at least one source of protein (usually chicken or fish) and vegetarian options.

A standardized menu plan ensures the quality and consistency of meals at all facilities – central kitchens or on-site restaurants. Gluten-free pasta is always available and 14 internationally recognized allergens are clearly labeled.

Batysh-Winter says about this: "Each food supplier receives the same requirements and provides a daily allergen declaration listing all the ingredients it uses."

Minimizing waste is extremely important when feeding at this scale. The planning team uses detailed forecasts to avoid overproduction: "We have cooperated with food sharing companies that have proven themselves in Germany. Some come every day to pick up the leftover food. Others are available on very short notice, as if it were an emergency."

A creative approach is also applied to the use of ingredients. For example, overripe bananas are turned into smoothies or banana bread: "Sometimes there are moments when you either prove that you are really an expert, or you just talk. We have set ourselves a goal – to feed everyone. And we achieve it."

Zaki Feyzullayev, Essen (Germany)
Idman.biz