England School Food Standards Pilot Cuts Meal Uptake by 15%
A six-week pilot program testing new school food standards in England resulted in a 15% decline in meal uptake at a Brighton primary school. The trial, led by catering company The Pantry for the Department for Education, replaced popular items like deep-fried foods and sugary puddings with healthier alternatives. However, students rejected these changes, opting instead for packed lunches that often contained unhealthy items like crisps and chocolate bars. Luke Consiglio, CEO of The Pantry, warned that while the intentions were positive, the rigid standards could negatively impact children's health by driving them away from school meals. Additionally, catering costs increased by 20p per meal due to expensive ingredients. Industry experts, including Philippa Terry, highlighted that the current government funding of £2.61 per free school meal is insufficient compared to other UK nations, threatening the commercial viability of catering companies. Critics also pointed out the lack of proper monitoring mechanisms for compliance. These findings have raised concerns among campaigners and caterers that the government’s well-intentioned proposals may inadvertently worsen children's nutritional intake and destabilize the school food sector.
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England School Food Standards Pilot Cuts Meal Uptake by 15%
A six-week pilot program testing new school food standards in England resulted in a 15% decline in meal uptake at a Brighton primary school. The trial, led by catering company The Pantry for the Department for Education, replaced popular items like deep-fried foods and sugary puddings with healthier alternatives. However, students rejected these changes, opting instead for packed lunches that often contained unhealthy items like crisps and chocolate bars. Luke Consiglio, CEO of The Pantry, warned that while the intentions were positive, the rigid standards could negatively impact children's health by driving them away from school meals. Additionally, catering costs increased by 20p per meal due to expensive ingredients. Industry experts, including Philippa Terry, highlighted that the current government funding of £2.61 per free school meal is insufficient compared to other UK nations, threatening the commercial viability of catering companies. Critics also pointed out the lack of proper monitoring mechanisms for compliance. These findings have raised concerns among campaigners and caterers that the government’s well-intentioned proposals may inadvertently worsen children's nutritional intake and destabilize the school food sector.
The Guardian