Caterers reject blame as schools combat obesity

School caterers have welcomed a £2.2m campaign to provide healthier food in schools, but have objected to being singled out as the cause of growing obesity in children.

Nicky Anstey, senior nutritionist at Initial Catering Services, said: "We provide five out of 21 meals per week for a child. The rest are the parents' responsibility. A whole-society approach is required to combat obesity."

The Government is piloting eight initiatives at 500 English schools. The initiatives focus on all aspects of food in schools apart from the hot main lunch. They include improving the dining environment, showing parents how to prepare healthier packed lunches, and serving yogurts, fruit juices and sandwiches alongside crisps, chocolate and fizzy drinks in tuck shops and vending machines.

The results of the vending pilots will be of great interest to head teachers. Vending sales can provide schools with as much as £15,000 a year. But the majority of parents think the Government has not gone far enough. More than eight out of 10 want vending machines banned from schools, according to a recent survey of 2,405 people by internet pollster YouGov.