As inflation impacts household budgets, the scheme is being viewed as a benchmark for accessible, state-supported food provision. Originally introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, the €1 meal offer remains available in university restaurants operated by CROUS (regional student service centres).
A survey conducted in January 2026 found that 48% of French students had gone without food for financial reasons and 23% did so several times a month. Over 650,000 students benefited from the €1 lunch scheme in 2024 when it was introduced.
Standard menus typically include a hot main course, sides and a dairy or dessert component, aligning with national dietary guidelines. Recent data from the French higher education ministry indicates sustained uptake, with millions of meals served annually under the scheme.
Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste, who has promised €120m in 2027 to back the scheme, has described the initiate as a “a small internal revolution.”