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Considering the fact that the number of obese children in Britain aged between two and 15 has risen to about 30% in recent years, school dinners in England will be free from chocolate or crisps from the autumn, the government announced. Education Secretary published nutrition guidelines banning meals high in salt and fat.
We want to improve the quality of school dinners and also pupils' health. From September, caterers will give high-quality meat or fish on a regular basis. The health of our young people is not an area for compromise! Providing pupils with a healthy balanced meal that will give them the energy, vitamins and minerals is essential!
Pupils will get "a minimum" of two portions of fruit and vegetables with every meal, while fried food will be restricted to two portions per week. Other elements will be banned from vending machines such as sweets or snack.
Consumer groups welcomed the new guidelines, but warned that children are still vulnerable to marketing tactics from the food companies.
We must find tighter restrictions on the way companies market unhealthy food to children! said one leader of these groups.
There are also plans elsewhere in the UK. The Scottish Executive is planning to ban junk food from schools and to create a law encouraging pupils to eat school meals. In Wales, a working group on junk food is due to publish a report. The main objective being to take junk food out of our schools. Northern Ireland's education department would like a public consultation concerning junk food.