School Food Standards in Academies and Free Schools

Tracy Hannigan's picture
 3
The food standards for LA maintained schools require low salt, sugar and fatty foods, require increases in vegetables and fresh fruit - and ban fizzy drinks/crisps/sweets in vending machines.

The government has exempted Academies from the same school food standards that apply to LA maintained schools, and many are concerned about the result. According to an article in the BBC online news last November, the Local Authority Catering Association has been dealing with requests from academies to relax standards and to bring back unhealthy food into lunches and school vending machines.

I find this very disturbing, especially when so many secondary schools have converted. It is even more unpalatable when you think of the pressure primaries are under to convert. I know at some schools, the school dinner is the only real meal some children get. Taking advantage of cost savings by reducing the quality of children's food - it makes my skin crawl.

Today Early Day Motion 2854 has been put forward to support a requirement to have school food standards be required for Academies. It asks the Secretary of State to amend the Education (Nutritional Standards and Requirements for School Food) (England) Regulations 2007 to require academies and free schools to adhere to the standards for school food so that the one million children now attending these schools can benefit from this commitment to their health and well-being.

Please write to your MP if you feel concerned about this issue. I do and I have. If your MP is not already in your email contact list, you can use this form to write them: http://www.writetothem.com/

I wonder if it is possible to know if local Academies are adhering to the standards or not?
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Comments

Janet Downs's picture
Wed, 14/03/2012 - 17:46

Thanks for this, Tracy. Has anyone told Jamie Oliver?

I wonder how long it will be before a fast food chain decides to sponsor some academies? Turkey Twizzler 4 Kids, perhaps? Or Nuggets R'Us? Their blazers could all carry badges advertising the stuff (and their sports shirts, bags and so on). I'm sure someone can suggest a suitable Latin motto.

Tracy Hannigan's picture
Fri, 16/03/2012 - 17:51

Jamie Oliver has taken this on fully - and rightly!


Janet Downs's picture
Fri, 16/03/2012 - 17:56

The Save Our School Food Standards website gives details of the campaign.

http://www.sustainweb.org/sos/

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