Plan for healthier school meals in England will hit services, say caterers

Caterers warn government plan for healthier school meals in England could drive up costs and push pupils toward junk food. | Contesto: cronaca

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• Plan for healthier school meals in England will hit services, say caterers

Contesto

A government push to introduce healthier school meals in England, including more lentils, pulses, and beans while limiting desserts and grab-and-go items like pizzas and sausage rolls, could have a “devastating effect” on catering services, according to a trade body representing school meal providers. The proposed changes, aimed at improving children’s nutrition, risk making catering operations financially unviable and driving pupils to seek alternative sources of junk food outside school grounds, the caterers warned. The warning comes from the trade body, which argues that the sector is already struggling under existing cost pressures. The new proposals would require schools to significantly alter their menus, reducing popular items that generate revenue and replacing them with more expensive plant-based proteins. Caterers say this could lead to higher costs for schools, which may be forced to pass those expenses on to families or cut services altogether, potentially undermining the very goals of the initiative. Under the proposed guidelines, schools would be required to limit the availability of desserts and reduce the number of processed, high-fat, and high-sugar items typically found in grab-and-go counters. Instead, meals would emphasize whole grains, legumes, and vegetables. While health experts have praised the move as a step toward combating childhood obesity and improving long-term health outcomes, caterers contend that the changes ignore the practical realities of school food service operations. The trade body highlighted that many school catering services operate on thin margins, and any reduction in popular, higher-margin items could push them into deficit. They also warned that if healthier options are less appealing to students, children may simply skip school meals and buy junk food from nearby shops, undermining the nutritional intent of the policy. This could exacerbate health inequalities, as children from lower-income families may be most affected by the shift. The debate reflects broader tensions between public health goals and economic sustainability in school food programs. Similar initiatives in other countries have shown mixed results,...

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Categoria: cronaca