Oct23Junk Food Problem for Secondary Schools

Junk food is already banned from school canteens and vending machines – but the new standards specify the maximum (fat, saturated fat, sugar, salt) and minimum (carbohydrate, protein, fibre, vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, calcium, iron, zinc) nutrient value of an average school lunch.

Getting high-quality food into schools is only half the issue. According to Ed Balls, many children who eat healthy lunches at primary school stop when they go to senior school – put off by long queues, unpopular menus or having to eat in the same room as teenagers six or seven years older.

The guidelines move into new territory by suggesting pupils won’t be put off school meals if they are treated like the paying customers they are.