Pupils 'rejecting' healthier food
Healthier food must be offered following new guidelines introduced this year
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Monday, 06, Nov 2006 10:52
Fewer pupils in England's secondary schools are opting to receive school meals following the introduction of healthier guidelines, a report claims today.
Of the 59 local authorities which responded to the BBC News survey, 35 (59 per cent) said that they had seen a fall in the number of pupils eating school dinners.
Some areas have seen decreases of up to 30 per cent, although the overall decline was just 5.8 per cent.
The campaign to create healthier food by TV chef Jamie Oliver was said by 71 per cent of local authorities to be the reason behind this decline.
Under the new guidelines menus must include at least two portions of fruit and vegetables each day and oily fish once every three weeks. No confectionary is allowed and deep fried foods and manufactured meat products are restricted. Savoury snacks high in salt such as crisps are no longer allowed.
Apart from the 'Jamie Oliver effect', other factors cited for the fall include restrictions placed on vending machines and the prolonged warm weather.
Just six of the authorities reported more pupils taking up the meals while eight reported no change and ten said the changes were not applicable.
Responding to the survey, Judy Hargadon, School Food Trust chief executive, said that the results were "not a surprise" as many schools that have changed their meals "experience a short term dip in numbers".
"However, the research also shows that some schools are doing very well with take-up increased while in many, including primary schools, the figures are about the same," she said.
"There are measures schools can take to prevent a decline such as consulting with parents and children about the changes and making sure the canteen is an enjoyable place for pupils to sit down. Above all it's critical that this revolution within school meals succeeds because the impact healthier eating will have on children's health as well as their education is enormous," Ms Hargadon added.