The School Food Trust (SFT) has launched a public consultation on which drinks to provide for children with school dinners.

The SFT is running the consultation with food and drinks manufacturers including Pepsico, Calypso and Abbey Well.
 
Caterers and parents can respond until the 29 February at the SFT’s website here. 
 
Feedback will be analysed for four to six weeks after this, before the publication of the results in mid April.

Brian Dow, senior communications manager for the SFT, said: “We hope suppliers and caterers will go along with it, and it will hopefully come into effect at the beginning of the next school term.”

Key points of the consultation include: that when children are thirsty, they should be given water; that all other drinks available should offer nutritional benefits; and that most colourings, flavourings and additives are unnecessary.

To read more about school dinners visit our school meals news round up page.

• Compass Group school caterer Scolarest has won a three-year contract worth £2.6m to provide services at nine secondary schools and to nearly 8,000 students in Cornwall. Scolarest will offer menus focusing on “home-cooked” food, vegetables, fruit and salad with dishes including Caribbean curry, poached salmon wraps and vegetarian chilli. Snacks will include teacakes and fruit loaf. Scolarest caters for 2,500 state schools, colleges and universities in the UK.

School caterers demand clarification on nutrient guidelines >>

Network of training centres launched to support school cooks >>

Crisis in school kitchens? >>

Scolarest scoops £9m-worth of contracts in the North >>

By Tom Howard

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