BACKGROUND:
Malnutrition remains a global public health challenge affecting all age groups. Among school-aged children, both undernutrition and overweight persist, often due to poor dietary intake. School feeding programmes have been shown to improve nutrient intake, particularly among vulnerable populations. In South Africa, the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) provides daily meals to learners in low-income communities, prepared by school food handlers. While food safety knowledge among food handlers has been widely studied, limited research has explored their combined nutrition and food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP).

METHODS:
A qualitative phenomenological design was employed. Data were collected from thirty-one (n=31) food handlers using a semi-structured interview guide to conduct face-to-face interviews and structured observations guided by a checklist. The data were analysed using content analysis to identify emerging themes.

RESULTS:
Despite limited nutrition knowledge, food handlers demonstrated positive attitudes towards providing nutritious meals to learners. Participants generally showed adequate food safety knowledge and positive attitudes; however, the consistent and correct implementation of safe food handling practices was constrained by situational and resource-related challenges.

CONCLUSIONS:
These findings highlight that food preparation practices within the NSNP are influenced not only by food handlers’ knowledge and attitudes but also by structural and contextual limitations within school kitchens. Addressing these constraints is essential for strengthening the nutritional quality and safety of school meals and for enhancing the public health impact of school feeding programmes.