Subway to open first outlet at a British school?
Fast-food chain Subway is in talks to open at a British school for the first time.
The US sandwich company could open a concession in the Sixth Form College of Parrs Wood High School in Didsbury, Greater Manchester.
Head teacher Andy Shakos told the Manchester Evening News: "At the moment we are at an early stage. We are looking at how we can change the provision for our students in the sixth form.
"Subway is one of the possibilities we are looking at."
But according to a poll on the MEN's website, more than 80% of respondents were against the chain opening at the school.
The School Food Trust said: "Many schools use options like serve-yourself salad bars and mix-and-match pasta stations, and we think the ‘build-your-own' model does have potential to encourage pupils to eat more veg, salad and fruit at lunchtime.
"Schools do need to remember the legal requirement to make sure they're meeting the national standards for school food."
Subway, which has more UK outlets than McDonald's, has previously been slammed by consumer groups over the high salt content of some of its products. Two years ago it announced it was cutting salt content of ingredients by 33%.
Celebrity chef Simon Rimmer, whose restaurant, Greens, is in West Didsbury, said there would have to be a tight control over the menu if Subway were allowed in.
"At the end of the day, you can take a healthy option or you can take an unhealthy option," he said.
"A concession like this could serve sandwiches which have just 350 calories or sandwiches which are loaded up with fat and salt. It completely depends on how this concession operates.
"There's nothing wrong with having a sandwich to eat every day but if it is an open menu, like it is on the high street, then it goes against everything we are trying to do in schools."
The news comes hot on the heels of the announcement by Education Secretary Michael Gove to launch a new investigation into school food, with Leon co-founders Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent appointed to lead the review.
By Janie Manzoori-Stamford
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