New Rules on School Meals
26 March 2009
New rules could result in fewer secondary school pupils eating school meals.
Although the government say that healthy food can also be tasty, plans to make meals healthier from September have left catering staff concerned that the menu will send pupils out of the canteen and into the nearest fast-food restaurant.
The providers of school meals – the Local Authority Caterers Association – say that the best way to keep young people in the canteen is to have one healthy option, but still offer more traditionally popular food.
The group fears that the government is putting too many rules and regulations in place regarding the food pupils eat. The government’s view, however, is that a health school meal is crucial to stop obesity levels rising among young people
Overall, the number of primary school children choosing school meals is starting to rise, but most still prefer a packed lunch. Meanwhile, in secondary schools the number of pupils eating school meals has fallen by over 5% since 2006.