The Government has announced plans to overhaul school food standards for the first time in over a decade, proposing to ban deep-fried food and restrict high-sugar and high-fat options from school menus.
The proposals, currently out for a nine-week public consultation, would require schools to serve more fruit, vegetables and wholegrains, while limiting daily ‘grab and go’ items such as sausage rolls and pizza.
A new national enforcement mechanism would ensure consistent compliance across schools.
The announcement comes amid figures showing one in three children leave primary school overweight or obese, with tooth decay cited as the leading cause of hospital admissions among five to nine-year-olds.
The plans have drawn support from chef Tom Kerridge, actress Emma Thompson and food campaigner Henry Dimbleby.
Separately, the Government confirmed that over 500 free breakfast clubs are opening this week, offering places to around 142,000 children across England.
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