Surge in unhealthy food at school food event challenges government standards

An investigation reveals over a third of companies at Britain’s largest school food event sold high-fat, sugar and salt products, highlighting a disconnect between official policies and commercial practices amid upcoming stricter regulations.

An investigation by The BMJ has found that more than a third of the companies exhibiting at Britain’s largest school food event were selling products high in fat, sugar or salt, underscoring the gap between official nutrition policy and the commercial pressures around school catering.

At The School Food People Show and Forum in Birmingham last month, 52 of the 137 firms with stands were supplying items such as hot dogs, pizzas, muffins and soft drinks. Among them were specialist hot dog companies, a Belgian waffle maker, wholesalers selling chocolate bars, crisps and sweets, and ice cream and soft drink brands. Some drinks were promoted as “school-compliant” despite containing more than half a day’s sugar allowance.

The BMJ also found that the trade body behind the event, which represents school food caterers, is sponsored by companies that sell pizzas, cakes, waffles and ice cream. That sits uneasily with current government standards, which require school meals to include fruit and vegetables, starchy foods, dairy, and meat or poultry while limiting foods high in fat, salt and sugar. Official guidance also sets out how schools should implement the rules across the school day.

The findings come as ministers prepare to tighten the standards further, with changes due to start in primary schools in September 2027 and in secondary schools a year later. Under the plans, deep-fried foods would be banned and items such as pizza and sausage rolls would be limited to twice a week, while ice cream and biscuits would be capped at once a week. The government has yet to say how it will check compliance, and caterers fear pupils may turn away from healthier menus in favour of packed lunches and snacks.

Greg Fell, president of the Association of Directors of Public Health, told The BMJ that what is promoted at trade shows tends to shape what is sold, warning that such events risk reinforcing an “obesogenic environment”. Marie Murphy, an assistant professor of child and adolescent nutrition at the University of Birmingham, described the findings as “shocking” and said they clearly run counter to school food standards. D’Arcy Williams, chief executive of the youth food charity Bite Back, said the evidence showed a striking contradiction at a moment when school food policy is supposed to be moving in a healthier direction.