New School Food Standards offer an important step forward for children's health
This week the Government announced a long-awaited major update to England’s School Food Standards, bringing the guidelines in line with the latest recommendations on child nutrition.
Published in response to the consultation earlier this year, the revised standards are designed to support healthy eating habits in children and provide them with the energy and nutrition needed to get the most of their school day.
The new standards place particular focus on increased fibre and plant-based options, whilst reducing sugar and saturated fat.
What are the key changes?
- An introduction of dedicated breakfast standards, including a defined list of lower sugar, higher fibre breakfast options (such as cereals, yogurts, eggs) that must have fruit or vegetables available each morning. Pastries, fried products, sweet spreads, honey and high sugar cereals won’t be on offer.
- Adding in extra nutrition to desserts, with sweetened desserts and cakes now limited to twice a week in secondary and once a week in primary. They must also include at least one portion of fruit and/or vegetables.
- An increased focus on fibre – pulses will be offered at least once a week and at least one pasta dish per week must contain 50% or more wholewheat pasta. Additionally, the minimum fibre requirement of bread is increased to 4g per 100g, and bread must contain no more than 5g per 100g of fat.
- Stronger fruit and vegetable requirements, with all main items and grab-and-go dishes to contain at least one portion of fruit or vegetables every day.
- Encouraging healthier protein sources – a restriction on deep-fried foods and a limit on processed meat. Cheese as a main ingredient to be limited and batter-coated items restricted.
- More plant-based options, including the expansion of permitted fortified plant-based drinks, greater use of pulses as a protein source, restricting processed meat substitutes, and stronger requirements that support nutritional vegetarian and plant-based menu choices.
- Free fresh drinking water must be on offer at all times to students
Within the announcement, the government also committed to providing further guidance and support to schools, authorities and caterers. This will include clear explanations and practical examples, as well as support for communicating changes to pupils, allowing schools to best apply the standards and make healthier choices appealing to students.
How will compliance be encouraged?
To ensure schools are meeting the standards, the government are also developing a national compliance monitoring system - details of which are still unreleased. To encourage greater transparency for parents and pupils, school food policies and menus will be made publicly available, and a lead governor will be nominated for school food.
The changes will aim to come into effect from September 2027, subject to Parliamentary approval.
Read the full School Foods Standards announcement and legislative framework on the government website.
