Schools will be required to publish their menus online so parents can see exactly what their children are eating, under new government proposals.
New School Food Standards Unveiled
Ministers are set to unveil a package of measures that place food and farming "at the heart of learning," aiming to equip young people with the knowledge to live healthier lives. The new School Food Standards proposals include plans for every school to appoint a lead governor responsible for food and to publish food policies and menus online.
Under the proposals, cooking and nutrition will become part of the core curriculum, taught up to the end of Key Stage 3. Cooking will be taught from primary school, and food will have its own dedicated strand within the design and technology subject.
Teaching Food Origins
Young people will also learn where their food comes from, to teach them about the role farmers play in providing healthy food. Pupils will learn mainly how to prepare savoury dishes so they can feed themselves and others affordably and healthily.
The measures form part of the government's response to Minette Batters' Farming Profitability Review, expected to be published this week. This comes as half of parents say they do not know enough about what their child eats at school.
Earlier Overhaul of School Dinners
Earlier this year, the government unveiled a major overhaul of school dinners, including bans on certain foods. These strict changes are part of a sweeping standards overhaul aimed at tackling childhood obesity and tooth decay. Deep-fried food will be banned from school menus, and sugary treats will be limited. Desserts like ice cream and waffles, and baked goods such as puddings and cakes, will be served only once a week and must contain at least 50% fruit.
Ministers previously unveiled a 25-Year Farming Roadmap, the government's long-term plan to balance domestic food security, farm profitability, and environmental sustainability, backed by a record £11.8 billion investment.
Minister's Statement
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: "When children understand where their food comes from, lifelong healthy habits are formed – and parents having more transparency over school meals means families are put back in the picture. These measures will inspire healthy choices at school and home, while showing food, farming, and the countryside as an exciting, rewarding career for the next generation."
