New standards for school meals in England are expected to be announced on Monday. Ruth Kelly, education secretary, will announce two sets of standards: the first food-based standards due to come into force in September and the second more complicated nutrient-based standards to be implemented in primary schools in 2008 and secondary schools in 2009.
Sector analysts believe that Kelly is likely to endorse recommendations made by the School Meals Review last year and to restrict schoolchildren’s intake of fried foods including chips to only two meals a week.
These standards are seen as a stop-gap until the nutrient-based ones, which take a scientific approach are developed.
