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168 6.1 Primary School Age Children

in many schools to the governing body rather than secondary, special and boarding schools and pupil
the Local Education Authority (LEA) in an effort referral units in England. Scotland and Wales also
to involve parents and teachers in the standards of have nutrient- and food-based standards. Northern
school meals. Ireland has food-based standards.

The food group-based standards required The nutrient content is based on the Reference
provision of combinations of food from all the five Nutrient Intakes (RNIs) for children as described
food groups. At least one item or a choice of two in Chapter 1.1. The energy content is based on the
items from each food group, depending on the age Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for energy
group, had to be available throughout the meal for children as listed in Table 1.1.1.
service. Surveys in both primary (Nelson et al.
2006) and secondary (Nelson et al. 2004) schools In England and Wales the midday meal must
showed these standards had little beneficial effect provide:
on pupils’ food choices as the majority of choices
were high-fat foods, chips and potatoes cooked in ●● 30 per cent EAR for energy
fat, and soft drinks.
●● not less than 50 per cent energy from
To rectify this the School Food Trust was set up carbohydrate
by the Government in 2005 to advise on school meal
standards. This is a charity advising the Department ●● not more than 35 per cent energy from fat nor
of Education and in 2007 the Trust published 11 per cent energy from saturated fat.
nutrient-based standards for school meals and foods
sold on school premises. From 2008 to 2009 the Minimum and maximum values of key nutrients
nutrient- and food-based standards became are specified and listed in Table 6.1.2.
mandatory for all LEA-maintained primary,
The figures for Scottish standards introduced
in 2004 are very similar, specifying a minimum of
30–40 per cent of RNI for fibre, protein, iron,
calcium, vitamin A, folate and vitamin C. These

Table 6.1.2 Energy and key nutrients that an average school lunch should
provide

Maximum or Primary school Secondary
minimum amount lunch school lunch

Energy (kcal) 530 ± 26.5 646 ± 32.3

Protein (g) Minimum 7.5 13.3
Carbohydrate (g) Minimum 70.6 86.1
Non-milk extrinsic sugars (g) Maximum 15.5 18.9
Fat (g) Maximum 20.6 25.1
Saturated fat (g) Maximum 6.5 7.9
Fibre (g) Minimum 4.2 5.2
Sodium (mg) Maximum 499 714
Vitamin A (µg) Minimum 745 245
Vitaimn C (mg) Minimum 10.5 14
Folate (µg) Minimum 53 70
Calcium (mg) Minimum 193 350
Iron (mg) Minimum
Zinc (mg) Minimum 3 5.2
2.5 3.3