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 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
twitter
facebook