Caterers warn of impact from England’s healthier school meal plan
Caterers warn that England’s new healthier school meal plan could significantly affect catering services in schools. The government’s proposals aim to improve children’s nutrition by increasing the amount of lentils, pulses, and beans served at lunch while reducing desserts and “grab-and-go” items like pizzas and sausage rolls. However, school meal providers say these changes may drive up costs and push pupils to seek less healthy food options outside school.
Concerns from school meal providers
Brad Pearce, chair of The School Food People, a trade body representing school meal providers, expressed concern that the changes could have “unintended consequences.” He warned that secondary school students might buy food and drink on their way to school or leave school premises at lunchtime to purchase junk food from local shops. This shift could severely impact the viability of school catering services by reducing revenue needed to cover staff wages and food costs.
Tracey Smith, chief executive of Sodexo’s school and university business, highlighted the challenge of balancing nutrition with children’s food preferences. She noted that children might start bringing packed lunches that are nutritionally unbalanced if they dislike or cannot afford the new school meals. Smith also pointed out that high-quality vegetarian dishes, which the new standards encourage, could cost as much as meat dishes, potentially affecting affordability.
Details of the new school meal standards
The government’s proposals, announced earlier this month, represent the first major update to school food standards in 13 years. The changes will prioritize children’s fibre intake and include several new requirements expected to take effect from September 2027. These include:
- Mandatory school puddings to contain at least 50% fruit
- A ban on deep-fried items such as battered fish and chicken nuggets
- Increased use of lentils and other legumes as healthier, nutritious alternatives to meat
However, suppliers have noted that most lentils are imported into the UK, which could increase costs further. Gavin Squires, business development controller at Bidfood, a major wholesaler supplying school caterers, said that stricter menu demands and reduced flexibility could complicate sourcing, availability, and stock management amid already stretched supply chains.
Financial pressures on the school catering sector
The average cost of a school lunch in England was £3.16 last year. Caterers emphasized that prices are largely influenced by government funding levels. The government currently spends £1.5 billion annually to provide free school meals to about 3.4 million children. From September this year, the eligibility for free meals will expand to include all households receiving universal credit, adding over 500,000 children to the scheme.
Despite this funding, caterers face rising costs due to inflation, wage increases, and geopolitical factors. Brad Pearce reported that members of The School Food People have experienced 50-70% inflation in food prices over the past three years. He also cited the impact of the UK living wage increases, the war in the Middle East, and rising fuel costs as additional pressures on the sector.
Profit margins in the sector remain low. Compass Group, a leading provider, has a net profit margin of 4%, while Sodexo’s margin is 2.8%. Bidfood reported a margin of about 3% in its 2025 financial year. These tight margins make it challenging for caterers to absorb further cost increases.
Responses from other stakeholders
Stephanie Slater, chief executive of the charity School Food Matters, stated that healthier food standards do not necessarily lead to higher costs. She emphasized that the broader issue is the need for increased funding rather than the standards themselves.
The Department for Education is currently consulting on the proposals until 12 June, with plans to implement the new rules next year. A spokesperson for the department said the new standards were thoroughly tested with caterers, schools, and nutritional experts to ensure they are realistic and deliverable without causing negative effects for parents and pupils. The spokesperson also noted that many schools already provide affordable, appealing meals that meet these standards and that a phased approach will allow caterers time to adapt.
Context and background
The update to school food standards comes amid growing concerns about children’s health. NHS data released in January 2024 showed that 24% of nursery and primary schoolchildren were overweight or living with obesity. This overhaul is the first since 2012, when the government commissioned the School Food Plan to improve school meals.
The changes follow a history of public debate over school food quality, including a notable incident two decades ago in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, where parents protested against healthy-eating campaigns by passing food through school railings.