Fresh Fruit And Vegetables Take Centre Stage In School Meals Overhaul
Fresh fruit and vegetables are set to play a much greater role in school meals under what the Government has described as the biggest shake-up of food standards in England’s schools for more than a decade.
The new standards will come into effect from September 2027, subject to parliamentary approval, although secondary schools will have an additional year to implement some measures.
Under the revised framework, every main meal will need to include vegetables or salad, either as part of the dish or served alongside it. Processed meats such as sausages, ham and chicken nuggets will be restricted to once a week and must be accompanied by fruit or vegetables.
Sweetened desserts and baked products will also be limited to once a week in primary schools and twice a week in secondary schools. They will need to contain or be served with a portion of fruit or vegetables, equivalent to 40g for primary pupils and 80g for secondary pupils.
Deep-fried food will be banned altogether. Chips, wedges and hash browns will still be permitted up to twice a week, but they must be oven-baked rather than deep-fried.
The rules are also designed to increase children’s consumption of fibre, wholegrains and pulses. All pasta dishes will be required to contain at least 50% wholewheat pasta, while bread must meet a higher minimum fibre threshold. Beans, lentils and chickpeas will be recognised more prominently as protein sources, with every main menu item required to include a source of protein.
School breakfast clubs will be covered by nutritional standards for the first time. Pastries, fried eggs and chocolate spread will no longer be permitted, while limits will be placed on the sugar content of breakfast cereals.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell described the reforms as “once-in-a-generation changes” that would “transform school food for children across the country”.
The Department for Education said the measures were intended to tackle childhood obesity, improve nutrition and support pupils’ concentration, learning and wellbeing.
Schools will be required to publish their menus and food policies online and appoint a governor with responsibility for school food. A national compliance system will also be developed with the Food Standards Agency.
The Association of School and College Leaders welcomed the healthier standards but warned that schools would need sufficient investment in catering facilities and professional development for school chefs. General secretary Pepe Di’Iasio said the rules should not become “another stick with which to beat head teachers”.
The Government has said the changes will be delivered through existing school funding.
Comments