The long-awaited nutritional standards for school food have been released by the Government.

They cover food-based standards, nutrient-based regulations and guidelines for food other than lunch.

Under the new proposals:

• school lunches will be free from low-quality meat products, fizzy drinks, crisps and chocolate or other confectionery
• high-quality meat, poultry or oily fish will be available on a regular basis
• pupils will be served a minimum of two portions of fruit and vegetables with every meal
• any deep-fried items will be restricted to no more than two portions in a week

Confectionary, chocolate, crisps and fizzy drinks will also be banned from vending machines and tuck shops.

New education secretary Alan Johnson said: “These new standards will start to undo decades of neglect and ensure that healthy eating is the norm in every school. The health of our young people is not an area for compromise.”

Click here for the full standards >>  

By Tom Bill

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