Consultation on School food and drink launched

The Scottish Government has launched a consultation on proposed changes to school food and drink menus following recommendations from Experts on how to make it healthier.

Strict rules already apply to the nutritional content of meals, drinks and snacks served in schools.

Following a review by health, nutrition and education experts, views are being sought on proposals to further reduce sugar and other measures to promote healthy choices and help tackle childhood obesity.

The proposals include:

  • Increasing access to fresh fruit and vegetables with a minimum of two portions of veg and a portion of fruit to be offered as part of a school lunch
  • Introducing lower sugar limits, for example for foods such as breakfast cereal and yoghurts
  • Reducing how often sweetened and baked goods are available in primary schools
  • No longer permitting fruit juice and smoothies to be offered in primary and secondary schools
  • Introducing a new regulation for red meat which specifies, for the first time, how much of a child’s weekly intake should be high-quality produce and limits the amount of processed meat

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said:

More than 360,000 meals are dished up in Scottish schools every day, setting children and young people up for their lessons and – through learning about healthy habits – for life.

While our internationally acclaimed nutritional standards are already very high, we want to go further to promote healthy, high quality food and drink and help tackle childhood obesity.

The proposals we are putting forward are based on the latest scientific and expert advice, as well as the views of local authorities, schools and catering staff. I urge everyone with an interest in school food to have their say.

You can share your views here.

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