School meals plan ‘short on detail'

The latest Government proposals for school meals lack detail and adequate funding, and take no account of the reality of today's schools, say staff representatives and food policy experts.

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	Lang: "They tried to tick boxes"

The plans form part of the Department of Health's White Paper on public health, published last week. Investment over the next three years will target fat, salt and sugar consumption at primary and secondary levels, says the report. It continues: "We will strongly consider introducing nutrient-based standards. Ofsted inspectors will be looking at healthy eating in schools, and will take account of any school meals in doing so." Professor Tim Lang, head of food policy at City University, London, said he had long campaigned for Ofsted inspections to include meals. But he added: "I think the Government has tried to tick all the appropriate boxes without working out the detail." Neil Porter, chairman of the Local Authority Caterers Association, said: "If the emphasis is on the kids' future, why isn't there more funding? And why aren't school meals free?" Porter pointed out that the Government announced it would invest just £1.1m on school meal improvements earlier this year, compared with the Scottish Executive's £63m investment in school catering over the same period. The White Paper also raises the possibility that catering staff will have more training and support. Lang welcomed this, but added: "If they really wanted to give staff full training, there would need to be much greater control over ingredient selection." Lang said problems began with the 1980 Education Act, which abolished nutritional standards in school meals. Porter said there were other problems too, such as the fact that many schools had no kitchen and lunch breaks were being cut to just 30 minutes. "Isn't this helping to cultivate a fast-food environment?" he added. Other white paper food initiatives - Public procurement: nutritional standards will be developed for food provided for the NHS, the Ministry of Defence and the Prison Service. - Food and health action plan: likely launch early 2005 - the Government wants to reduce sugar, salt and fat in processed foods and reverse the trend towards larger portion sizes.