The UK Government plans to overhaul school lunches by banning deep-fried foods and limiting sweetened desserts starting next September. Fish and chips will still be permitted but must be baked rather than fried; cakes and ice cream can only be served twice a week in secondary schools and once in primary schools, always accompanied by fruit. The new food standards also mandate half-wholemeal bread, weekly servings of wholewheat pasta and pulses like lentils, and restrictions on processed meats, sugary drinks, and high-fat foods. These measures were developed with nutritionists and support from celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and actress Dame Emma Thompson.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
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Story summary
The Department for Education (DfE) will implement new food standards starting September to combat childhood obesity. Traditional school lunches like fish and chips will no longer be deep-fried but can still be served baked. Schools must serve vegetables or salad with every meal, and sweetened desserts such as cake and ice cream will be limited to twice a week in secondary schools and once a week in primary schools, each time accompanied by fruit. Previously, cakes and desserts were allowed daily. The standards, developed with nutritionists and supported by figures like TV chef Jamie Oliver and actress Dame Emma Thompson, aim to improve the nutritional value of school meals. However, some critics, such as Matt Vickers from the Conservative Party, argue that there are more pressing issues facing the nation than these food reforms.
Written for “School Lunch Rules Changes” on 2026-09-14,
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School lunch classics like fish and chips will be overhauled as part of a Government war on childhood obesity.
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classics → get → obesity
From next September, schools will no longer be allowed to serve deep-fried foods – and every meal must come with vegetables or salad.
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meal → allow → vegetables
It means the traditional 'fish and chips Friday' lunches loved by many pupils will still be permitted, but must be prepared using oven baking instead.
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lunches → mean → baking
In addition, sweetened desserts such as cake, waffles and ice cream can only be served twice a week in secondary schools, and once in primary schools – and must include a portion of fruit.
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desserts → sweeten → fruit
Previously, cakes and desserts were allowed every lunchtime.
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cakes → allow → lunchtime
The new food standards, published by the Department for Education (DfE), were developed alongside nutritionists and are backed by campaigners including TV chef Jamie Oliver and actress Dame Emma Thompson.
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standards → publish → Oliver
However, last night the Tories criticised the reforms, saying there are 'much bigger things on the nation's plate'.
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Tories → criticise → plate
Matt Vickers, party deputy chairman, said: 'Our Armed Forces are crumbling, but Andy Burnham has decided his priority is taking pudding off the menu.
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priority → say → menu
School lunch classics like fish and chips will be overhauled as part of a Government war on childhood obesity (file image)
'
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classics → overhaul → obesity
The only thing wobblier than Andy Burnham's defence policy is the jelly he's trying to ban.'
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he → try → policy
There are also new restrictions on processed meat products, such as sausages and chicken nuggets, which can only be served once a week.
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which → be → sausages
And all pasta must be at least 50 per cent wholewheat and must be served least once a week, as must pulses such as lentils.
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pulses → serve → lentils
Condiments will also have new regulations, with only reduced salt and sugar ketchup permitted and chocolate spread not allowed.
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spread → have → regulations
Meanwhile, breakfast clubs, which previously had no specifications, must not include pastries, fried eggs or high-sugar cereals.
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which → have → pastries
Other restrictions will be placed on sugary drinks and foods high in fat and salt such as pizzas and sausage rolls.
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restrictions → place → pizzas
Each school will be expected to publish their menus and food policies online to help boost compliance.
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school → expect → compliance
From next September, schools will no longer be allowed to serve deep-fried foods – and every meal must come with vegetables or salad (Pictured: Education Secretary Lucy Powell)
They
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meal → allow → vegetables
will also be expected to nominate a school food governor who will hold schools to account for the meals on offer.
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schools → expect → offer
The DfE will work with the Food Standards Agency on a plan to monitor schools, with details to follow in the coming months.
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DfE → work → months
The changes come in response to data showing around one in three children are leaving primary school overweight or obese, while tooth decay is the leading cause of hospital admissions for youngsters aged five to nine.
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decay → come → youngsters
Education Secretary Lucy Powell said: 'These are once-in-a-generation changes that will transform school food for children across the country.
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that → say → country
'This is what change looks like: Healthier food, fuller stomachs and a fairer start for every child.
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change → look → child
However, Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the ASCL heads' union, said: 'The current funding rate for free school meals is not enough to cover costs and many schools have to divert money from teaching and learning in order to afford this vital provision.
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schools → say → provision
'It is a case of having to rob Peter to pay Paul.'
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It → have → Paul
