Healthy eating and drinking in maintained schools in Wales - consultation response

The Welsh Government is proposing to ensure children are offered more fruit and vegetables in schools to help them get their five-a-day, and more starchy carbohydrates. The new standards will also see pastries, desserts and fried foods limited, sugary drinks prohibited and portion sizes tailored based on age groups to reduce food waste. 

Our response

We are broadly supportive of the Welsh Government's proposed approach but believe there is scope to go further in a number of key areas:

• Proposals around the provision of starchy carbohydrates and oily fish fall short of national dietary recommendations. We believe the Welsh Government needs increase the variety of starchy carbohydrates offered across the school week and to progressively increase the proportion of wholegrain options, which are the most beneficial for children’s health. While we welcome the inclusion of sustainably sourced fish in school food standards, we are disappointed by the proposal to reduce the frequency of oily fish provision from once every two weeks to every four weeks. This change represents a backward step in promoting children’s health and does not align with the UK Eatwell Guide, which recommends at least one portion of oily fish per week
• A clearer link should be established between food standards and food and nutrition education. Schools are not only vital in terms of ensuring our children eat well, but also for ensuring our children learn about the importance of doing so. The Welsh Government needs to be more explicit about how the new standards will be reinforced through the integration of food education into the curriculum and school ethos, ensuring primary school-age children not only eat well at school but also understand why healthy eating matters. This holistic approach would reinforce the impact of improved nutritional standards and support long-term public health goals.
• The proposal to limit provision of processed meats on primary school menus to once a week and to reclassify ham, gammon and bacon is a positive step forward. However, we question whether this is ambitious enough given the well-established health risks associated with processed meat consumption. The Welsh Government should set out a clear trajectory towards phasing out processed meats in primary settings, where children are forming lifelong dietary habits. It is also important to show leadership in ensuring that vegetarian options in primary schools are nutritionally balanced and health-promoting. The Welsh Government should also set out plans to phase out processed meat and fish alternatives to better align with public health goals and UK dietary guidance. We recommend beans, pulses, lentils and eggs are more regularly included on school menus to support diverse and nutritious non-meat meal options. 
• The statutory guidance supporting local authorities, schools and caterers could be strengthened to ensure greater clarity, consistency and impact. To ensure consistent implementation, we believe Estyn should be given responsibilities to monitor both the promotion of healthy eating and compliance the new Healthy Eating Regulations. A review mechanism should also be included so that the Welsh Government can assess whether the standards are achieving their intended outcomes. 

We respond to a wide range of consultations to ensure that the College’s position, and ultimately children’s health, is represented. Members can get involved in current consultations in Wales by contacting enquiries-wales@rcpch.ac.uk.