NationStates Jolt Archive

Junk food to be banned in schools
Ruth Kelly and Tony Blair at a school breakfast club
Ruth Kelly and Tony Blair attended a school breakfast club in Brighton
Foods high in fat, salt or sugar are to be banned from meals and vending machines in English schools.

The ban, from next September, has been announced by Education Secretary Ruth Kelly at the Labour Party conference.

Vending machines in schools will not be allowed to sell chocolates, crisps or fizzy drinks, Ms Kelly announced.

The School Meals Review Panel next week will give details of the nutritional standards for ingredients to be allowed in school meals.

Junk food scandal

"I am absolutely clear that the scandal of junk food served every day in school canteens must end," said Ms Kelly.


FOODS LIKELY TO BE BANNED
Burgers and sausages from 'meat slurry' and 'mechanically recovered meat'
Sweets including chewing gum, liquorice, mints, fruit pastilles, toffees and marsh mallows
Chocolates and chocolate biscuits
Snacks such as crisps, tortilla chips, salted nuts, onion rings and rice crackers
"So today I can announce that we will ban poor quality processed bangers and burgers being served in schools from next September."

The review panel, an expert advisory group, was set up after a campaign to improve school meals by TV chef Jamie Oliver.


LIKELY TO BE EXEMPT
Bread products such as crumpets, English muffins, bagels and croissants
Cakes and biscuits made fresh by school caterers, digestive and ginger nut biscuits, cake bars, iced buns and doughnuts
Yoghurts
Dried fruit, unsalted nuts, peanut and raisin mixes and unsalted popcorn
In response, the government promised extra funding to bring the primary school meal budget up to 50p per pupil per day, with 60p for secondaries - and created the panel to set minimum nutritional standards.

These will be introduced from this term - and will become mandatory from September 2006.

Monitoring the standards of food served to pupils will be part of the responsibility of Ofsted school inspectors.


plate of pasta

Head teachers sceptical
Healthy vending struggle
New menus prove popular
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Ms Kelly said it was "common sense" that some sorts of foods should be excluded from school menus.

"For example, meat products that are made from reconstituted meat slurry that bears no resemblance to the original product."

But plans to raise the standard of school food will not benefit pupils in local authorities where there is no school meals service.

Shadow education secretary David Cameron said: "We welcome this belated U-turn from Ruth Kelly. At the election ministers rejected Conservative proposals to extend a ban on junk food to vending machines, so this is a positive step."

Kitchen staff

But tighter standards were only part of the solution.

"They must be backed by sufficient resources for schools to provide the extra staff and kitchen facilities required - two crucial elements which are not being met in many schools."


HAVE YOUR SAY
Children cannot be expected to learn when their little bodies and minds are struggling because of poor nutrition
Janice Hopkins, Windsor, UK

Send us your comments

Welsh Education Minister Jane Davidson said: "In Wales we have already set up a new group which will be looking at how to improve the quality and nutritional standards of school meals and to ensure we have a consistent and coherent approach to driving forward improvements in food and nutrition in our schools."

Nutritional standards were introduced a few years ago for meals in Scotland's schools, which typically spend more on ingredients than those in England.

The Northern Ireland School Caterers Association says schools there cook from fresh ingredients and do not rely as heavily on convenience foods as those in England.

'Deprived communities'

As well as presenting plans to improve school food, Ms Kelly also pointed to the priorities of her forthcoming White Paper - including the need for greater parental choice.

"Every parent should be able to choose the school that is right for their child.

"For too long, access to some schools has only been open to those who could afford to buy an expensive house next to a good school, while the rest were told to accept what they'd been given. There was nothing fair about that approach," she said.

She promised more good schools, improved transport, advice for parents and fair admissions.

And she emphasised the importance of city academies, "working at the heart of our most deprived communities".


I for one am totally for this. I can see the difference between children who have a good diet and those who do not. it shows up in school grades and general behaviour.

Good thing.

About time.

methinks this'll mean less kids take school dinners.

methinks this'll mean less kids take school dinners.

Personally I'm not up for ramming something down kids mouths, but I would love parents and teachers to agree that this is best for childrens bodies ands minds, not only that it would save the NHS a shit load of money, perhaps reduce anti social behaviour the potential benifits are great.

They're banning alot of good-tasting foods, but seeing how kids at school would probably buy them all the time(which is bad) instead of eating them in moderation(which is good), this is a smart move.

Now if only they did that in the U.S. We have far too many obese children...

methinks this'll mean less kids take school dinners.
Possibly. At least this way the parents will be paying for them to eat junk food rather than the local education authority footing the bill for it, though.

They're banning alot of good-tasting foods, but seeing how kids at school would probably buy them all the time(which is bad) instead of eating them in moderation(which is good), this is a smart move.

Now if only they did that in the U.S. We have far too many obese children...

In my State it's already illegal to sell junk food at schools. Good thing too because like you said we have WAY to many tubby kids sludging around.

They're banning alot of good-tasting foods, but seeing how kids at school would probably buy them all the time(which is bad) instead of eating them in moderation(which is good), this is a smart move.

Now if only they did that in the U.S. We have far too many obese children...

See I alays used to think that that stuff tasted great then I spent 2 months in Italy. I then headed up to Austria and was really tired so I just pulled into Macdonalds...I had a big Mac, after those months of such good food that Macdonalds was terrible it just didn't taste of anything.

I've never had a burger like that since, or fries etc. if I have a bacon sandwidge it's organic, low fat low salt and most importantly high flavour.

call me a food snob if you want but I value you my body and putting that crap anywhere near my system makes me feel a little ill.

Possibly. At least this way the parents will be paying for them to eat junk food rather than the local education authority footing the bill for it, though.

The LEA and the schools do great business from it actually. This is why it was so hard to actually put this ban into effect. We may have a 'Labour' government but they are still capitalists.

Socialism is so close yet so far away, we really need to grasp it while we can.

Food snob! :D sorry, I don't have anything other to add other than I agree with it and that's it. Hopefully I was the only one to jump on that grenade. I did for you.

It's stupid to ban junk food from being sold in school. You punish all the kids because some of them are too stupid to take care of their own bodies....

Don't really care. At my school the food was so shite, fat-laden and occasionally out of date I started having packed lunches.

I've not had their "food" in 4 years.

It's stupid to ban junk food from being sold in school. You punish all the kids because some of them are too stupid to take care of their own bodies....


Come the facts are that if you put junk food in front o kids they are so used to it and it's all they know that's all they eat...and it really isn't good for them.

They are so use to the fats, salts and sugars that they are addicted.

Next time you have to sit between two fat people on a plane you should think that if only they had not eaten quite so much junk food when they were younger.

It's stupid to ban junk food from being sold in school. You punish all the kids because some of them are too stupid to take care of their own bodies....
in my experience kids deserve to be punished! They're certainly guilty of something. Evil little buggers! Seriously, is eating healthily really punishment?

Next time you have to sit between two fat people on a plane you should think that if only they had not eaten quite so much junk food when they were younger.

Unless they have some form of psychological eating disorder and thus can't help it, a problem with metabolism or have given birth to 4 or 5 kids.

Don't judge.

The LEA and the schools do great business from it actually. This is why it was so hard to actually put this ban into effect. We may have a 'Labour' government but they are still capitalists.

Socialism is so close yet so far away, we really need to grasp it while we can.
Oh, definitely. The reason the kids were eating shit in the first place is because they'd ploughed out the contracts to the people who'd provide them with the biggest income, and to hell with the kids. Comes to something when it takes a bloody telly chef bitching about the problem before anything gets done...

I watched Jamie Oliver's program about school dinners and those kids were appalling, they couldn't conceive of eating anything other than fries and burgers. It's obviously partly the parents' fault because the kids eat crap food at home, but I do agree with the schools limiting it. At one point Jamie made a delicious-looking chicken wrap: it was just flatbread, chicken, lettuce, tomato and a few spices. The kid who was helping him out found the idea of it so disgusting he wouldn't eat it for money. This was one of the better kids.

I don't see how anyone can blame the kids themselves, it's the people responsible for feeding them. However, the program did show that you can't just ban food. The women doing the cooking had absolutely no idea how to make healthy food, and with such a low budget could only afford semi-food products.

Good for Britain.

Good for Britain.

I agree havaii.

Trust the government. It makes the decisions for you, because it knows you’re far too stupid to yourself.

In my State it's already illegal to sell junk food at schools. Good thing too because like you said we have WAY to many tubby kids sludging around.


My state bans junk food, soft drinks, and all other fattening stuff already, but people are still fat! i think it should be mandatory for the kids to run a mile every day.

opps i copied the wrong peoson, o well i think u know what i mean

My state bans junk food, soft drinks, and all other fattening stuff already, but people are still fat! i think it should be mandatory for the kids to run a mile every day.
Trust the government. It makes the decisions for you, because it knows you’re far too stupid to yourself.

This will just make junk food more appealing. Hell it makes me want a burger right now and I'm not a UK teen.

Why ban junk food? Is it really going to start cutting down on obesity? And if it does, that means there won't be any fat kids I can laugh at.

haha very funny, u cant laugh at the fatties.

They're doing this in Caliland, too.

I'm glad I'm out of HS... they can't take the soda machines out from the college! Or maybe they can... eh. I'll buy them at the cafe, then.

1 step closer to a total facist nation, yay.

Thats great Imo.

I've watched Jamie Oliver, and I never laughed so loud when I saw a kind who never ate a chicken in his life before. Just eating processed food, My god. Felt a little sad later, but I think it's for the best.

IMO, this sort of thing is waaaaaay overdue. If kids really want to eat junk food, they'll bring it in from home, especially when their stupid parents give it to them, but why should schools (especially government schools) be contributing to the problem?

I watched Jamie Oliver's program about school dinners and those kids were appalling, they couldn't conceive of eating anything other than fries and burgers. It's obviously partly the parents' fault because the kids eat crap food at home, but I do agree with the schools limiting it. At one point Jamie made a delicious-looking chicken wrap: it was just flatbread, chicken, lettuce, tomato and a few spices. The kid who was helping him out found the idea of it so disgusting he wouldn't eat it for money. This was one of the better kids.

Is this a real story? I mean, seriously, it sounds highly unlikely to me. Are you having us on?

Unless they have some form of psychological eating disorder and thus can't help it, a problem with metabolism or have given birth to 4 or 5 kids.

Don't judge.

Oh please unless someone is on steroids, then you are fat because you put too much in your mouth and do too little.

All these big boned people or people who have a disease are just taking the piss.

Are you seriously saing that of the 60 million very obese people in America a large proportion have the problems you suggested, and that the growing obesity in western Europe is because of a rise in such things?

I think it's because they eat too much, normally of the wrong things, and do far too little.

Is this a real story? I mean, seriously, it sounds highly unlikely to me. Are you having us on?

No. He is not.
I come from Britain, and this actually happened. That show was the main reason for reform, as it highlighted to the British public at large that change must happen. It's a brilliant change in my opinion. It is anoither milestone in the campaign against junk food, and another step away from the Brits becoming like the many obese Americans ;) . Plus, healthier food DOES taste as good or better than junk food often. Also, the behaviour of kids in British schools can be appalling and this may help start to curb it

This will just make junk food more appealing. Hell it makes me want a burger right now and I'm not a UK teen.
It's going to be a lot easier and more effective than trying to force the bloated little turds to take some exercise, though.

Its competly unfair i'm 16 currently at school i eat some junk food their if it takes my fancy i deserve my right to choose. And before you think i'm some tubby fat kid i have an incredibly atheletic body

In my opinion there are a lot of overweight girls in the United Kingdom--many more than here in Russia.

Unless they have some form of psychological eating disorder and thus can't help it, a problem with metabolism or have given birth to 4 or 5 kids.

Don't judge.

Please... when you come from a city like mine, which is constantly on the radar as one of the fattest cities in Canada, you can pretty safely judge. If you live in North America, where the number of cases of obesity are appalling, you can pretty safely judge. The number of people who have such medical problems are few compared to the number of fat people who are fat because they don't take care of themselves.
I'm sick of hearing, "Oh, it's not necessarily their fault." In most cases it is. We don't live with healthy lifestyles. There is no "miracle cure" for obesity. It's going to take baby steps like the ones the Brits are taking by banning bad foods in schools. Good on 'em. :) But it's also going to take work on the part of the people. You can't expect to be able to sit around, and hope the gov't comes up with some plan for you to lose weight.
Seriously, it's gotten to the point where I can't imagine our lifestyles being more sedentary. It doesn't matter what you eat when you sit all day. No exercise + any food = weight gain.

Alot of schools allow kids to go home at dinner so more and more will go to the chippy and the corner shop for their food.

Alot of schools allow kids to go home at dinner so more and more will go to the chippy and the corner shop for their food.
As I said, in which case their parents will be paying for it, rather than the education authority.

[QUOTE=Messerach]The kid who was helping him out found the idea of it so disgusting he wouldn't eat it for money. This was one of the better kids.QUOTE]
This I doubt. Either they
Payed the kid to react as such
Picked out one whom they knew wouldn't (thus not one of the better kids)
He has some sort of food allergy to one of the things there
They were offering 25p or something because the producer was a cheap bastard
Me and my compadres at the time were kids not too long ago, and I once ate a worm on a bet (one three monster in my pockets). One of the other ones soaked a hotdog bun in chocolate milk, covered it in salt, pepper, bacon bits, french dressing, and pretty much anything else he could find. We eventually got about a dollars worth of change together, and then he got out early because it made him throw up.

Its competly unfair i'm 16 currently at school i eat some junk food their if it takes my fancy i deserve my right to choose. And before you think i'm some tubby fat kid i have an incredibly atheletic body

I'm quite sure you'll still have plenty of opportunity to eat junk food outside of school.

all i know is that at my college (in england) the whole eating place got revamped and now its supposed to be more healthy with more veggie options and new catering staff. Fine. its alright and all but most people eat the junk still, chips and pizza go the fastest.

Is this just in state schools? Or will it be enforced in public schools as well? If the latter is true, I shall be annoyed.

1 step closer to a total facist nation, yay.

*slow clap

bravo, somebody finally lowers themselves to referring something they don't like as fascism. To that end, I must give the slow clap.

*slow clap

bravo, somebody finally lowers themselves to referring something they don't like as fascism. To that end, I must give the slow clap.

It's the classic schoolkid jibe. I used to say it all the time when I was 14. :D

"And your homework today is..."

"FASCIST!"