Industry responds to school food rules

The government's department for education unveiled the new minimum standards for food in schools last week. Fizzy drinks and confectionery will no longer be available as part of school lunches, or in vending machines. FDF director general Melanie Leech said: "The UK food and drink manufacturing industry fully supports the Government's drive to improve the standards of school meals, and played a constructive part in the school food consultation process. "FDF regrets that the standards ban certain foods from being vended in schools. Positive actions are always more effective than prescription. FDF continues to be committed to a 'whole school approach'. Educating children about diet and health will help them better understand the range of information and choices available to them both within and outside the school gates." Meanwhile consumer group Which? welcomed the rules but claimed that the government needed to do more to tackle the problem of childhood obesity. Sue Davies, chief policy adviser at Which?, said: "It's great news that so much effort has been put into improving the quality of school meals so children will have a range of healthy options available to them. "However unless there are tighter restrictions on the way companies market unhealthy food to children it will be hard for parents to reinforce the healthy eating messages out of school."