Interim food based standards

In May 2006, the Government announced new standards for school food. There are three parts, all of which are to be phased in by September 2009. The new standards for school food came about following research showing that children were not making healthy food choices at lunchtime and that school meals did not meet their nutritional needs.

In 2005 the Government appointed an expert group, the School Meals Review Panel (SMRP), to recommend new standards for school food. The School Meals Review Panel published a report in October 2005 called ‘Turning the Tables: Transforming School Food’. This report proposed radical changes, which would prohibit or restrict food high in fat, sugar and salt or made with poor quality meat being provided at school.

The Interim food-based standards were first introduced in September 2006. There are a small number of differences between the 2006 Regulations and the first School Food Trust guide. These relate mainly to the definition of meat products and frequency with which they may be served; the practical implications of requiring condiments to be served in sachets; and the composition of drinks. The new regulations are designed to ensure that the food-based standards are workable and easy to understand these are outlined in A revised guide to the Government’s new food-based standards for school lunches.