Most secondary schools serve junk food to pupils - breaking healthy meals rules

Three-quarters of secondary schools in England are serving junk food , like burgers and chips, too often - breaking the rules on meals offered to pupils .

A study of almost 400 state secondaries by Bite Back, a food charity set up by chef Jamie Oliver, found schools were offering unhealthy foods more often than allowed. Jamie famously first declared war on Turkey Twizzlers and other junk food back in 2005, as he campaigned for healthier school dinners . But now the analysis of nearly 400 school menus found 76% weren’t sticking to the rules.

A report by LACA (Lead Association for Caterers in Education) last year found children were getting less meat, cheaper ingredients and smaller portions in their lunches as caterers battled rising costs.

It revealed caterers, who were part of LACA and provided about three million school dinners a day, were having to make “really difficult decisions” over portion sizes, and the quality of ingredients they could afford. It said it was becoming an "ever increasing challenge" to meet the government’s school food standards.

The government’s proposed School Food Standards aimed to increase the availability of nutritious and healthy food including fruit, vegetables, and wholegrains. But the research found 53% of schools were selling snacks high in fat, sugar or salt - such as crisps, biscuits, Mini Cheddars, chocolate bars and pastries - which were meant to be banned.

Some 224 schools were providing meat products, such as burgers, nuggets, sausages and goujons, more often than the twice a week permitted. And 123 schools were using chocolate chips or chocolate coating as an ingredient in desserts or bakes, despite being banned.

D’Arcy Williams, chief executive of Bite Back, said: “At a time when the health of one in three English children is at risk, parents are sending the government a clear message: stronger school food standards must come with teeth. Schools need the support to deliver, but the companies making money from feeding children must also be held accountable.

“Ministers now have an opportunity to ensure the new rules are transparent, independently monitored and properly enforced, so every child gets the food they need to learn and thrive.”

He added: “These findings are very alarming and expose a system that is fundamentally failing our children. It is shocking to find crisps and chocolate being pushed at breakfast time or processed meats like sausage rolls and bacon baps being served far more frequently than the rules allow.

“Young people have been telling us for years that their school food is ‘beige, bland and boring’ and now we have more evidence that they are being surrounded by unhealthy food throughout the school day. Schools should be a sanctuary for health and learning, yet the current postcode lottery of food quality is undermining that mission.”

The government was rolling out improved School Food Standards in the coming months to accompany the expansion of Free School Meals to all children on Universal Credit .