In recent years, concerns about childhood obesity and diet-related diseases have sparked a growing debate about the nutritional content of school meals.
One of the most pressing issues is the amount of sugar in the food provided to children.
Food campaigners, led by the group Action on Sugar, have called for a ban on cakes and biscuits in school lunches due to their excessive sugar content.
Currently, schools in England are permitted to offer sugary treats like cakes, biscuits, and pastries as part of students’ lunches.
These sweet snacks, whether homemade or bought-in, are often laden with sugar.
An analysis by Action on Sugar, conducted by nutrition experts at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), found that many of these treats contain up to 12 teaspoons of sugar per serving.
For instance, some chocolates and biscuits contain as much as 51 grams of sugar, which equates to 12 teaspoons in a single packet.
Dr. Kawther Hashem, a lecturer in public health nutrition at QMUL and the head of research at Action on Sugar, emphasized the need for change.
Reducing sugar in school lunches can help prevent diet-related diseases in children.She argued that these sugary snacks are contributing to the excessive sugar intake of children, which could lead to long-term health problems, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and tooth decay.
“We have a duty to every child to make every school a sanctuary from unnecessary sugar,” Hashem said.
She believes that eliminating cakes and biscuits from school lunches would be a crucial step in promoting healthier eating habits.
The campaigners suggest that the current school food standards are inadvertently encouraging children to exceed their daily recommended sugar intake.
They recommend extending the sugar tax, currently applied to sugary drinks, to include confectionery and other high-sugar products.
A government spokesperson has responded by encouraging schools to promote healthy eating and providing new training for school governors to ensure that students have access to nutritious food throughout the day.
However, advocates for change believe that stricter regulations are necessary to protect children from the dangers of excessive sugar consumption.
By revising school food policies, we can ensure that children are given healthier, more balanced meals, which will help them grow up stronger and free from the risks of diet-related diseases.