Green entrepreneur Dale Vince has expressed support for new government proposals aimed at improving the nutritional quality of school meals, describing them as a “welcome step” toward tackling rising levels of childhood obesity and poor dietary health in the UK.
Mr Vince, whose Forest Green Kitchen business supplies plant-based meals to a significant number of primary schools, said the changes were long overdue and called for further reform of school food policy.
The updated School Food Standards, published by the Department for Education, aim to address rising concerns around childhood obesity and poor dental health. The proposals include measures to remove deep-fried foods from school menus and replace high-sugar desserts with healthier options such as fruit.
He said: “Good move, surprising to me how unhealthy school dinners still actually are – made worse by the Tories 2014 law, surely sponsored by the big food lobby – that forces schools to serve meat and dairy in school dinners. The science is clear, that stuff is bad for us, forcing it on kids over the heads of parents is perverse, in my mind it’s criminal. Labour needs to change it.”
Mr Vince also urged the government to review existing rules around compulsory food groups in school meals, arguing that schools should have greater flexibility to provide fully plant-based options where appropriate.
The revised standards are part of a broader government effort to ensure all pupils, regardless of background, have access to nutritious, high-quality meals during the school day.
Advocates say the changes could play a key role in improving children’s long-term health outcomes, while also supporting more sustainable food systems.
