Deep-fried food will be banned from school menus and sugary treats restricted under new plans to improve children's diets and tackle rising obesity levels in England.
Deep-fried food will be banned from school menus
The Government has unveiled proposals to overhaul school food standards for the first time in more than a decade to give pupils access to healthier, more balanced meals.
Under the new rules, schools will no longer be allowed to offer unhealthy "grab and go" items such as sausage rolls and pizza every day, while deep-fried food will be banned entirely. Fruit will replace "sugar-laden treats" for most of the week, with a greater focus on fresh, nutritious ingredients.
On its website, the Government said: "Schools will no longer be able to offer unhealthy ‘grab and go’ options like sausage rolls and pizza every day, while deep fried food will be banned completely. Fruit will also need to be served instead of sugar-laden treats for the majority of the school week."
The changes come as new NHS data shows that 24% of nursery and primary school children in England are overweight or living with obesity, fuelling concern over long-term health risks.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: "We are launching the most ambitious overhaul of school food in a generation, and it is long overdue.
"Every child deserves to have delicious, nutritious food at school that gives them the energy to concentrate, learn and thrive - meals that children will actually recognise and enjoy, backed by robust compliance so that good standards on paper become good food on the plate."
The updated standards, due to come into force from September, will be supported by a nine-week public consultation with parents and pupils, alongside a new national system to ensure schools consistently meet the requirements.
Sample menus under the new plans include dishes such as spaghetti Bolognese, Mexican-style burritos, cottage pie with root vegetable mash, jerk chicken with rice and peas, and vegetarian options like roasted chickpea and vegetable wraps.
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, who has long campaigned for healthier school meals, welcomed the move.
He said: "Twenty years ago, dog food had higher standards than school dinners. I've been banging the drum ever since because I refuse to accept our kids being fed anything less than proper, nourishing meals.
"School food is the UK’s most important restaurant chain. From September, during term-time schools will provide two-thirds of a child’s daily diet - a massive opportunity to improve health at scale."
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