Parents will be at the front line of a new drive to improve the quality of school dinners in England, with an independent school food trust and tougher standards on processed food introduced for the new school year, education and skills secretary Ruth Kelly said today [Thursday].
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New minimum health specifications for processed foods – to reduce the fat, salt and sugar content of foods such as beefburgers, sausages and cakes – will be introduced into schools from September, ahead of the introduction of tougher standards for school meals in 2006.
Kelly called on the food industry, caterers, nutritionists, and food interest groups to work with the government to develop a new school food trust, which would give independent support and advice to schools and parents to improve the standard of school meals.
A package of proposals will be developed in discussion with the food industry, caterers, nutritionists, and food interest groups for publication in the next two months, building on measure already being taken.
The Public Health White Paper, published in November 2004, set out commitments to introduce a new vocational qualification for school caterers to help them promote healthy food; offer more help for schools and local education authorities in drawing up catering contracts to source healthy school meals’ services, and healthy food in vending machines, tuck shops, or breakfast clubs; make healthy eating part of the Ofsted school inspection process; and introduce tougher minimum standards for school meals, in which the use of nutrient-based standards will be strongly considered.
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By GlobalData“Children’s health must come first. We want to make sure that children have access to healthy diets both in and out of school. Our Public Health White Paper takes action to tackle childhood obesity not only through providing healthier food during the school day but by giving people the information and support they need to make healthy choices – for themselves and their children,” said John Reid secretary of state for health.
