HC3S

Nutrient-based and Final Food-based Standards for School Lunches

The Education (Nutritional Standard and Requirements for School Food) (England) Regulations 2007 requires school food to meet exacting standards and in particular requires the school lunch to positively contribute to a young person’s nutritional requirement.

A school lunch must provide the following as an average over the menu cycle:

Energy or Nutrient and amount of measurement Min or Max Primary Schools: From September 2008 Secondary Schools: From September 2009
Energy in kilocalories (kilojoules)   530 (2215) 646 (2700)
Fat (grams) Max 20.6 25.1
Saturated fat (grams) Max 6.5 7.9
Non-milk extrinsic sugars (grams) Max 15.5 18.9
Sodium (milligrams) Max 499 714
Total carbohydrate (grams) Min 70.6 86.1
Fibre (grams) Min 4.2 5.2
Protein (grams) Min 7.5 13.3
Iron (milligrams) Min 3 5.2
Zinc (milligrams) Min 2.5 3.3
Calcium (milligrams) Min 193 350
Vitamin A (micrograms) Min 175 245
Vitamin C (milligrams) Min 10.5 14
Folate (micrograms) Min 53 70

The above is applicable to primary schools from September 2008 and secondary schools from September 2009.

These nutritional requirements are in addition to the food based requirements for school lunches which are:

  • Not less than two portions each day from fruit and vegetable
  • Oily fish must be provided at least once every 3 weeks
  • Meat products have been subdivided and can only appear on the menu once a fortnight.  Divisions are burger, sausage, individual pie, shaped and coated.
  • Food cooked in fat or oil is restricted to no more than 3 days a week
  • Deep fried food, including cooked in manufacture, is restricted to twice a week.
  • Starchy food i.e. pasta, rice, potatoes must be available daily
  • Only drinks permitted are water, milk (skimmed or semi skimmed), pure fruit juice, yoghurt or milk drinks.
  • No table salt is permitted.
  • No confectionery, chocolate or chocolate-coated products (excluding the use of cocoa powder) can be available.
  • Bread must be available as an additional item, daily.

The menu is run on a 3 week cycle, and the nutrient requirements are based on an average school lunch over the 3 weeks.

For more information, please contact Evelyn Cook, Food Development Officer, on 023 8062 7730 or email evelyn.cook@hants.gov.uk