The Department for Education (DfE) has unveiled the first new school food standards in over a decade, requiring schools to reduce sweetened baked desserts and restrict sugary drinks, ice cream, and waffles. The measures, announced on September 13, 2026, aim to combat childhood obesity and tooth decay, with desserts now required to contain or be served with fruit.
Key changes to school menus
Under the sweeping overhaul, deep-fried foods will be cut, and foods high in fat and salt such as pizzas and sausages will be limited. Menus will need to include more fibrous wholegrains and pulses like lentils and chickpeas as main meal options at least once a week, and every main meal must be accompanied by or incorporate a portion of vegetables or salad.
Schools will be expected to publish their menus and food policies online to boost compliance, and each school will nominate a school food governor to hold the institution accountable for the meals offered. The DfE will collaborate with the Food Standards Agency on a monitoring plan, with details to follow in the coming months.
Support and implementation timeline
The standards will come into effect next September, with secondary schools given until September 2028 to implement some changes. A survey of more than 1,400 headteachers and senior leaders in primary and secondary state schools in England, conducted in September by Teacher Tapp on behalf of School Food Matters, found that 68% believe the standards would be more effective if compliance was independently checked.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell said: “These are once-in-a-generation changes that will transform school food for children across the country. From our historic expansion of free school meals to the rollout of free breakfast clubs and new school food standards, we are making sure that every child has access to the healthy meals we know children need to learn, grow and succeed. No child should spend the school day hungry, and no family should have to struggle to put food on the table. This is what change looks like: healthier food, fuller stomachs and a fairer start for every child.”
Health context and endorsements
The measures come as around one in three children leave primary school overweight or obese, and tooth decay remains the leading cause of hospital admissions for children aged five to nine. The changes are backed by chef Jamie Oliver and actress Dame Emma Thompson, who campaigns for the Food Foundation charity.
Oliver said: “Back 20-plus years ago when I started School Dinners I could not believe that we had standards for dog food but not what we serve our children at school. And I’ve never stopped banging that drum. So it’s brilliant to see new school food standards based on the latest science, to make sure the food children get at school is actually supporting their health and helping them thrive.” Dame Emma added: “This is a milestone worth celebrating and an investment in a healthier future for the next generation.”
