The UK government's push to make school meals healthier by increasing fibre intake through lentils, pulses, and beans could have a "devastating effect" on catering services, according to school meal providers. The proposed changes, which include limiting desserts and reducing grab-and-go items like pizzas and sausage rolls, are expected to strain an already struggling sector.
Caterers Warn of Unintended Consequences
Brad Pearce, chair of The School Food People, a trade body representing school meal providers, warned that the changes could drive up costs and push students to seek junk food elsewhere. "We think there will be unintended consequences of secondary school students who buy food and drink on the way to school, or leave schools at lunchtime and buy it on the high street," he said. "That has a devastating effect on the viability of our services in terms of revenue, and payment for staff and food and ingredients."
Tracey Smith, chief executive of Sodexo's school and university business, noted that caterers already struggle to balance nutrition with what children find appealing. "What we don't want is children to start bringing in packed lunches that aren't balanced because they think they do not like the school food or that they cannot afford it," she said.
Proposed Changes and Timeline
The proposals, announced earlier this month, represent the first major update to school food standards in 13 years. Key changes include making it mandatory for all school puddings to contain at least 50% fruit and banning deep-fried items such as battered fish and chicken nuggets. Lentils will be incorporated into more meals as a healthier replacement for meat. Some changes are expected to take effect in September 2027.
However, suppliers have raised concerns that lentils, which are mostly imported, could drive up costs. Gavin Squires, a business development controller at Bidfood, said: "Changes to menus and product specifications could have implications for sourcing, availability and stock management, at a time when supply chains are already stretched."
Financial Pressures on Caterers
The average cost of a school lunch in England was £3.16 last year, but prices are primarily influenced by government funding. The government spends £1.5bn annually to provide free school meals for about 3.4 million children, a figure expected to rise when universal credit households become eligible from September. Elevated inflation and the war in Iran are also pushing up food prices.
Major providers operate on thin profit margins: Compass Group has a net profit margin of only 4%, Sodexo 2.8%, and Bidfood around 3%. Members of The School Food People have reported 50-70% inflation in food prices over the past three years. Pearce added: "The pressures from the increase in the UK living wage and the London living wage are huge. Plus you have the war in the Middle East and increases in fuel costs."
Health Concerns and Support
The proposed changes come amid rising concerns about children's health. NHS data for 2024 shows that 24% of nursery and primary schoolchildren were overweight or living with obesity. The Department for Education is consulting on the proposals until June 12, with plans for new rules to take effect next year.
Stephanie Slater, chief executive of the charity School Food Matters, argued that healthier food standards do not necessarily mean higher costs. "There is a real squeeze at the moment with food inflation and labour costs," she said. "But it is a broader issue that it is less about food standards and more about the fact that the system needs more funding."
A Department for Education spokesperson said: "Our new school food standards were thoroughly tested with caterers, schools and nutritional experts to make sure they are deliverable, realistic and don't have detrimental knock-on effects. We found that many schools are already creating affordable, delicious meals that meet these standards. Several saw the cost of meals fall." The spokesperson added that a phased approach would give caterers time to adapt.
