New powers handed to school caterers

04/01/2012 11:44:59

People in catering manager jobs at schools will be given more flexibility in setting the prices of children's meals under new government regulations.

The new system allows caterers to target particular groups of pupils with price promotions, in the hope it will encourage them to eat a healthier lunch.

Takeaways often offer children cheap lunchtime deals in order to drum up trade, a move these regulations are intended to counteract.

Children's minister Sarah Teather argued that while school meals are healthier than takeaway food, they often struggle to compete for price.

"No longer will schools be tied by complicated red tape, instead they will be able to use their initiative to increase take-up of school meals," she added.

Judy Hargadon, chief executive of the Children's Food Trust and the School Food Trust, expressed the opinion that well-fed children are likely to do better in class.

Bupa statistics show that one in six UK children aged between two and 15 were obese in 2005, indicating the role school catering teams can play in ensuring they have a healthy diet.

Posted by Ed Warle

Advertise contract catering jobs in the UK

• Print this page
• Forward to a friend