Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA) response to Government `Healthy Living Blueprint for Schools'

Citation

(2005), "Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA) response to Government `Healthy Living Blueprint for Schools'", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 35 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2005.01735aab.007

Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA) response to Government `Healthy Living Blueprint for Schools'

Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA) response to Government `Healthy Living Blueprint for Schools'

LACA calls for return to a "health and welfare" school meals programme and backs a call for Free school meals for all children.

The Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA) welcomed the Government's "Healthy Living Blueprint for Schools" which was launched in London on 6 September.

Levels of salt, sugar and fat

Whilst school caterers have already endeavoured to reduce the levels of salt, sugar and fat in school meal preparation, it is not realistic to think that they can be prepared without ingredients sourced from manufacturers. As a result, caterers are reliant upon those suppliers producing products which also meet these requirements and LACA is actively working with a number of manufacturers to help them to develop new recipes and products which have reduced salt, sugar and fat suitable for school use. Whilst the Blueprint suggests that "food eaten in school can encourage pupils to develop a taste for food low in salt, sugar and fat", it is important to recognise that unless there is increased demand for/use of products with lower levels of salt, sugar and fat in society as a whole, there is substantial risk of children being confronted with mixed "taste messages" if they are not experiencing an across the board reduction both in and out of school.

Whole school approach to good nutrition

LACA totally supports the concept of a whole school approach and that nutritional education should be carried through from theory in the classroom to practice in the dining room. However, the Blueprint refers to "managing the lunch hour" when the current trend in schools is towards shortening the lunch break sometimes to as little as 25 minutes. Nutritional education is going to have questionable effect on children's eating habits if schools do not allow pupils sufficient time to eat lunch. LACA feels that the attitude of schools and head teachers needs to change so that school meals are not viewed as a commercial sideline and that healthy schools and healthy pupils are seen as important as academic achievement. Also, in order for a whole school approach to good nutrition to be effective then this must be applied to every aspect of school life and to all pupils, including those who bring packed lunches, the content of which are not controlled by any nutritional standards.

For further information contact: Hazel Green, National Press Officer, LACA. E-mail: HaGreen7@aol.com