Expert recommendations to make school food and drink even healthier are being consulted on by the Scottish Government. John Swinney says standards are already high but the Scottish Greens say more is needed to encourage healthy eating.
Strict rules already apply to the nutritional content of meals, drinks and snacks served in schools, but following a review by health, nutrition and education experts, views are being sought on proposals to further reduce sugar and other measures to promote healthy choices and help tackle childhood obesity.
The proposals include:
- Increasing access to fresh fruit and vegetables with a minimum of two portions of veg and a portion of fruit to be offered as part of a school lunch
- Introducing lower sugar limits, for example for foods such as breakfast cereal and yoghurts
- Reducing how often sweetened and baked goods are available in primary schools
- No longer permitting fruit juice and smoothies to be offered in primary and secondary schools
- Introducing a new regulation for red meat which specifies, for the first time, how much of a child’s weekly intake should be high-quality produce and limits the amount of processed meat
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “More than 360,000 meals are dished up in Scottish schools every day, setting children and young people up for their lessons and – through learning about healthy habits – for life.
“While our internationally acclaimed nutritional standards are already very high, we want to go further to promote healthy, high quality food and drink and help tackle childhood obesity.
“The proposals we are putting forward are based on the latest scientific and expert advice, as well as the views of local authorities, schools and catering staff. I urge everyone with an interest in school food to have their say.”
However the Scottish Greens say school food guidance is not enough. The new recommendations to make school food healthier do nothing to address pupils leaving at lunchtime to buy junk food says a Green MSP.
Alison Johnstone, the Scottish Greens’ health spokesperson, also says that schools need better kitchen facilities so that fresh food can be prepared and cooked on site.
Lothian Green MSP Alison Johnstone said: “New guidance on what is served in schools is welcome and providing three portions of fruit and vegetables at lunch time is a start, but when John Swinney began this review he said he wanted primary school children to have as many of their ‘five a day’ at school as they can.
“It’s disappointing to see this is as far as efforts will go. It also won’t address the fact that in secondary schools most pupils leave at lunchtime, generally to buy junk food from nearby supermarkets, vans and takeaway shops.
“London plans to ban new fast food outlets from opening near schools and we need equally strong action to tackle the obesogenic environment forced upon children and young people in Scotland. Nor is there anything in these proposals to improve facilities for preparing food in schools. Many schools lack kitchens and decent dining halls. We can hardly begin to change the food culture in our schools without investing in the production of healthy, fresh food, on site, and supporting catering staff properly.
“Expanding the provision of free school meals simply must be a greater priority. It clearly increases uptake and is the best way to make school meals a foundation for healthy eating for all children.”
The consultation on School Food Regulations can be viewed on the Scottish Government website.
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