ADPH welcomes updated school food standards

The Government has updated the School Food Standards to include healthier food options across school menus, including reducing high fat, salt, and sugar options, and increasing the amount of fruit, vegetables, and wholegrains in meals.

The new standards, which have been developed in partnership with public health experts and nutritionists, will ensure children at school will benefit from the same standard of healthy meals.

Welcoming the updated standards, Sarah Muckle, ADPH spokesperson for Children and Young People and Director of Public Health for Essex County Council, said:

“Every child, regardless of where they live or how much money their family earns, deserves to grow, learn, and play in an environment that supports their health. Updating these standards and changing the food put onto plates at school is a significant step towards achieving this. By improving the quality of meals served in school, we can ensure healthier, nutritious foods are a part of every child’s life, giving them a stronger foundation to learn while supporting their physical and mental health and wellbeing. The next step will be to make sure that no child misses out on a healthy free school meal, by extending this opportunity to every child, irrespective of their circumstances, while ensuring councils receive the funding and resources they need to support schools in implementing these changes.”