New school dinner rules introduced as trials show some pupils shun healthier menus
New rules for school dinners in England are being introduced, but trials have shown some pupils refusing healthier menus and warnings that they could go hungry.
How it was covered
- ITV was the only channel found covering it, concentrating on practical menu changes, pupil resistance, food waste and costs.
- Channel 5, BBC News, BBC One, BBC Two, Channel 4, GB News and Sky News: not found in tracked broadcasts.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story. Facts only one channel reported are attributed to it.
New rules for school dinners in England include a ban on deep-fried food and a limit of one sweet pudding a week. ITV reported that the changes are the biggest to school meals in more than a decade and are intended to increase nutrition while lowering salt, sugar and fat. ITV reported that the rules also aim to add more fresh fruit and vegetables.
ITV's lunchtime bulletin reported warnings that the trials were leaving some children hungry because they refused the new food. In its evening bulletin, ITV reported that 11 schools tested the plans and five saw a reduction in pupils choosing them. ITV reported that some schools saw a rise in food waste, with vegetables often left uneaten, and that some faced higher costs of between 6p and 20p per meal. ITV also reported that local authorities will add 15p to the price of each meal.
ITV's coverage included pupils in Surrey giving mixed views. One said some people might prefer sweeter food and struggle to get used to the change. Another said a balanced diet matters and that eating junk pudding all the time would make people unhealthy.
Amber Francis, head chef and senior food educator at Christ's College Finchley, a state school, told ITV that schools wanted to add more fibre, fruit, vegetables and nutritious ingredients. She said change had to be gradual and that a quick change would not solve everything. She also said budgets were a massive factor and that school chefs had to be creative, including by adding vegetables to familiar comfort foods such as pizza.
ITV reported that the government has revised its plans, for example by removing a proposal for all pasta and rice to be brown. ITV reported that the government says the menus have been tested, adjusted, are realistic and deliverable, and some schools are already meeting the new standards within budget. ITV reported that this week marks the 120th anniversary of school meals, and there are fears the changes could drive more children to packed lunches.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| Amber Francis said healthier school meals should be introduced gradually. | |
| Government trials of healthier school menus include a ban on deep-fried foods and more fresh fruit and vegetables. | |
| Warnings said some children refused the new school menus and were left hungry. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV1 treated the story as a consumer and practical food issue, pairing pupil vox pops from Surrey with a studio interview with school chef Amber Francis. Its lunchtime coverage stressed warnings that children could go hungry, while the evening package by consumer editor Chris Choi added trial data, food waste and cost figures. The tone was balanced and implementation-focused, giving space to government assurances that the menus had been revised and could be delivered within budget.
- “Some people might like more sweet than healthy. They might not be able to get used to the change.”
- “Some saw a rise in food waste.”
- “We have to look at the long-term effect and the long-term progression of improving school meals, but a quick change is not going to solve everything.”
Who was on air
People and organisations each channel put on air while covering this story. Channels' own presenters and reporters are not listed. Names as transcribed, and the list can miss people.
- 13:43 GMT
Amber Francis, head chef and senior food educator at Christ's College Finchley, a state school in North Under
ITV Lunchtime News · Mon 9 Nov
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.