The new measures to make school dinners healthier

According to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, the revised food standards will allow schools to be more creative in their menus.

15:09 17 June 2014

New food standards will be introduced to make school dinners healthier. The government said that unlike the previous standards that were introduced between 2006 and 2009, the new one will be less complicated and less expensive to enforce. 

 

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg added that the new standards will help school cooks to create an “imaginative, flexible, and nutritious menu.” 

 

One of the rules outlined in the new standards state that one or more portions of vegetables or salad should be served as an accompaniment everyday together with at least three different fruits and three different vegetables each week. 

 

In addition, it has been stipulated that schools are only allowed to serve a maximum of two portions of deep-fried, batter-coated, or breadcrumb-coated items per week while fruit juice portions should not exceed 150ml. 

 

Mr Clegg said: "The revised school food standards will allow schools to be more creative in their menus.

 

"They are easier for schools to understand and crucially they will continue to restrict unhealthy foods to ensure our children eat well."

 

The standards are not compulsory for academies created between 2010 and June 2014 – something that National Union of Teachers (NUT) does not support. 

 

A spokesperson for the group said: "Expecting some schools to sign up voluntarily while others are required to abide by the standards on a compulsory basis fundamentally undermines the principle of having universal food standards.

 

"This will significantly weaken the message that all schools should provide a healthy and balanced diet to all children."