England introduces stricter school food rules to combat childhood obesity by 2027

New government standards aim to overhaul school menus with a focus on healthier, balanced diets by 2027, banning deep-fried foods and sugary desserts to improve pupils’ health and learning outcomes.

England’s school meal system is being overhauled under new food rules designed to make canteens healthier and less reliant on foods high in fat, salt and sugar. According to the Department for Education, the changes are meant to improve what children eat at school, with a stronger emphasis on fruit, vegetables, whole grains and more balanced menus. The move has been presented by ministers as part of a broader effort to give pupils better food and improve learning and health.

The updated standards would bar deep-fried items from school menus and sharply limit a range of familiar lunchtime and dessert options. Sky News reported that cakes, pastries, biscuits, sugary desserts and ice cream are among the items to be cut back, while processed meats and other heavily salted foods would also face tighter limits. The Independent said the new guidance also pushes schools towards higher-fibre dishes, including lentils and other pulses, while requiring vegetables or salad with main meals.

The government says the rules are intended to tackle childhood obesity and tooth decay, and to align school food with modern dietary advice. Official guidance says meals should include more fruit and vegetables, less salt in cooking and more wholegrains, while limiting how often certain meat and poultry products can appear on the menu. The new standards are due to take effect in September 2027, giving schools time to adjust their contracts, kitchens and menus.

The response from campaigners has been broadly positive. Zainab, a young Bite Back campaigner, told the group that thousands of pupils had shared their views because they wanted better food in every school. She said the announcement mattered because young people wanted meals that help children “feel good, focus and thrive”. Bite Back said it wants to work with the government and schools to make sure the standards are introduced properly and deliver lasting change in canteens across the country.

The changes also sit alongside a wider push on school food. The government has already expanded free school meals and breakfast clubs, and some reports say eligibility is being widened further so that more children from lower-income households can eat at school. Ministers argue that the combined package is intended to reduce hunger in the classroom and make healthy eating the norm rather than the exception.