Sweet treats could soon become a rare sight in school canteens in England.
A major update to school food standards, the first in more than a decade, aims to curb childhood obesity and tooth decay by limiting sugary baked desserts unless they contain or are served with fruit.
The changes, announced by the Department for Education (DfE), introduce wide-ranging restrictions on sugary foods and drinks, including ice cream and waffles, while also cutting back on deep-fried foods.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell said: "These are once-in-a-generation changes that will transform school food for children across the country.
"From our historic expansion of free school meals to the rollout of free breakfast clubs and new school food standards, we are making sure that every child has access to the healthy meals we know children need to learn, grow and succeed.
"No child should spend the school day hungry, and no family should have to struggle to put food on the table.
"This is what change looks like: healthier food, fuller stomachs and a fairer start for every child."
The revised guidelines also call for limits on foods high in fat and salt, such as pizzas and sausages, and require schools to serve more wholegrains and pulses like lentils and chickpeas at least once a week.
Vegetables or salad must be included with every main meal.
Schools will be expected to publish their menus and food policies online and appoint a dedicated school food governor to ensure compliance.
The DfE will work with the Food Standards Agency to develop a monitoring system, with further details to be announced.
A survey of more than 1,400 headteachers and senior leaders in primary and secondary state schools in England, conducted by Teacher Tapp in September for School Food Matters, found that 68% believe the standards would be more effective if independent compliance checks were in place.
The new rules will take effect from September 2027, though secondary schools will have until September 2028 to implement some of the changes.
Around one in three children leave primary school overweight or obese, and tooth decay remains the leading cause of hospital admissions among five- to nine-year-olds.
Jamie Oliver describes school food standards as "brilliant"
The changes have been welcomed by chef Jamie Oliver, who has campaigned on school food standards for more than two decades.
Mr Oliver said: "Back 20-plus years ago when I started School Dinners I could not believe that we had standards for dog food but not what we serve our children at school."
He said it is a "brilliant day" and said: "And I’ve never stopped banging that drum."
Mr Oliver added: "So it’s brilliant to see new school food standards based on the latest science, to make sure the food children get at school is actually supporting their health and helping them thrive.
"And that those standards won’t just live on paper, but have proper monitoring to make sure they’re followed, so we know where we need to deploy care, love and support."
However, education unions have warned that schools will need additional funding to meet the new requirements.
Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "The current funding rate for free school meals is not enough to cover costs and many schools have to divert money from teaching and learning in order to afford this vital provision.
"It is a case of having to rob Peter to pay Paul."
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT, agreed that more support is needed.
He said: "If the government is serious about them working in practice it must provide significant additional funding to reflect the real costs of school meals, which these new requirements are likely to increase.
"Many schools already have to raid stretched core budgets for staffing and the curriculum to subsidise the costs."
Recommended reading:
- Two thirds of parents think junk food advertising should be banned near schools
- School parking rules - where school run parents can and cannot leave their car
- Government says cutting school to four days a week could have 'damaging impact'
Criticising the reforms, the Tories said there are “much bigger things on the nation’s plate”.
Matt Vickers, deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, said: “Our Armed Forces are crumbling, but Andy Burnham has decided his priority is taking pudding off the menu.
“The only thing wobblier than Andy Burnham’s defence policy is the jelly he’s trying to ban.”
Are you happy to see these changes made to school food standards? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments.
Share