Experts have voiced concerns after an investigation found that more than one-third of the suppliers at the UK's largest school food event offered products high in fat, sugar, or salt. The School Food People Show and Forum in Birmingham, which is promoted as the nation's sole event dedicated to school food, featured 52 out of 137 companies selling items such as hot dogs, pizza, muffins, and fizzy drinks.
This comes as the UK government is planning to introduce new school food standards aimed at limiting unhealthy foods and increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. The proposed changes, set to take effect in primary schools in September 2027 and secondary schools in September 2028, would ban deep-fried foods, limit items like pizza and sausage rolls to twice a week, and permit ice cream and cookies only once weekly. Desserts will also be required to contain at least 50% fruit.
Greg Fell, president of the Association of Directors of Public Health, stated that the offerings at the show perpetuate an 'obesogenic environment,' contributing to the normalization of childhood overweight and obesity. Marie Murphy, assistant professor of child and adolescent nutrition at the University of Birmingham, described the findings as 'shocking' and contrary to school food standards. D'Arcy Williams, chief executive of the youth activist food charity Bite Back, highlighted the 'extraordinary contradiction' of promoting unhealthy products while simultaneously trying to elevate school food quality.
The investigation by the British Medical Journal found that the main trade group for school food caterers, which organizes the show, is sponsored by companies supplying pizzas, cakes, waffles, and ice cream. At the event, seven wholesalers offered chocolate bars, crisps, and sweets, alongside multiple firms selling ice cream, soft drinks, pizzas, cake mixes, and vending machine items.
Experts suggest that the prevalence of these less healthy options is partly due to their higher profit margins, which help catering firms offset the costs of producing more nutritious, less popular meals. Current standards, established by the 2013 School Food Plan, prevent schools from serving more than two portions of deep-fried food weekly and mandate at least one portion of fruit or salad daily.
The new standards represent the most significant overhaul of school menus since 2013. These developments occur against a backdrop of rising childhood obesity rates in the UK, with nearly 60% of adult diets consisting of ultra-processed foods, according to 2024 figures. Over one in five children in England are overweight or obese upon starting primary school, a figure that increases to over one-third by the time they finish. Tooth decay also remains a leading cause of hospital admissions for young children. The government has yet to confirm how compliance with the new regulations will be monitored, while catering firms express concern that pupils may opt for packed lunches over healthier school meals.