News

LACA (Local Authority Caterers’ Association) was dismayed to see the story covered by the Mail Online yesterday (Thursday, May 10th) of Scottish schoolgirl, Martha Payne who has reported her dissatisfaction with her school meals on her own website.

Photographs she took herself of her own meal choices, which did not appear compliant with the requirements of Nutritional Standards legislation for school food, were also shown on her site and in the Mail Online coverage.

LACA National Chair, Lynda Mitchell commented: “Although nutritional standards for school food in Scotland are slightly different to those that apply to all maintained schools in England, caterers and schools in both countries are required to abide by them by their respective law.

“Nutritional Standards ensure that each meal is nutrient rich and a healthy balance of at least one portion of fruit and vegetables combined with starchy foods like pasta and rice, for example, as good sources of energy.

“The menus are devised to provide a nutritionally balanced school meal every day to help children concentrate and perform better in class as well as for their general health and wellbeing.

“Portion size is also determined by the Nutritional Standards which prescribe the amount of energy a school meal should provide. If the standards are being followed by schools, then both the balance of food on the plate and the portion sizes will all be right.

“Providing nutritious balanced meals for children and young people is essential so it is important for all schools to adhere to one set of Nutritional Standards for food provision.

“These meals can make a major contribution towards altering eating habits, changing diets and decreasing obesity levels which in turn, research has shown, will help children and young people to improve their academic and physical performance.

Lynda concluded: “The Nutritional Standards should also be regarded as an aid to caterers and schools to ensure children and young people are educated about healthier foods and most importantly, guided towards making better choices at lunchtime.”

Nutritional Standards came into force in Scotland in 2003.