The standards for food provided in schools at times other than lunch.
Since September 2007, food and drink provided at times other than lunch has been required to meet the food-based standards for all school food other than lunches
What do these standards cover?
The food-based standards for all school food other than lunches apply to all food and drink provided by local authorities or school governing bodies to pupils on and off school premises, during an extended school day (up to 6pm).
The standards cover:
- Breakfast clubs
- Mid-morning break services
- Vending machines
- Tuck shops
- After school snacks and meals
The standards
Food provided at times other than lunch must comply with the following standards:
More of these healthier items:
- Fruit and vegetables must be provided in all school food outlets. These can include fresh, dried, frozen, canned and juiced varieties
- Free, fresh drinking water should be provided at all times
- Only healthier drinks are permitted throughout the school day. There are more details about permitted drinks here.
Restricted or no longer allowed:
- Confectionery such as chocolate bars, chocolate coated or flavoured biscuits, sweets and cereal bars must not be provided
- Salt must not be provided at tables or service counters
- Condiments such as ketchup and mayonnaise must only be available in sachets or individual portion of not more than 10g or 1 teaspoonful
- Snacks such as crisps must not be provided. Nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits with no added salt, sugar or fat are permitted
- Cakes and biscuits must not be provided at times other than lunch
- No more than two deep-fried food items such as chips and batter coated products can be provided in a single week across the school day
- Starchy food cooked in fat or oil must not be provided more than three times a week across the school day
- Meat products (manufactured or homemade) are divided into four groups. A meat product from each of the four groups may be provided no more than once per fortnight across the school day.
There is more information about these standards in A guide to introducing the Government’s new food-based standards for all school food other than lunches, available here:
