Andy Burnham is banning nice food from schools. Ice cream, you scream…
Under new school food rules fish and chips and other deep-fried foods are banned completely, sweetened baked products are limited to once a week in primary, twice in secondary, and each has to include a portion of fruit. So – out of the door then…
Ice cream is restricted in a new dessert allowance. There are new breakfast standards: no pastries, no fried eggs, no chocolate spread, and a sugar cap on cereals. Pasta has to be at least 50% wholewheat at least once a week and condiments like ketchup must be limited to the reduced salt and sugar versions only. Processed sausages, chicken nuggets and ham can be served once a week only. Beans, chickpeas and lentils must appear on the menu at least once a week. Nuts are out too…
Schools have to implement the changes between September 2027 and 2028 for secondaries. The school unions are pointing out that these changes will raise costs and there is no extra money. The National Association of Head Teachers said: “Many schools already have to raid stretched core budgets for staffing and the curriculum to subsidise the costs.” Schools have to nominate a ‘food governor’ to enforce the changes…
Jamie Oliver said in a government release: “after 25 years of campaigning, today is a brilliant day.” Emma Thompson has also lent her support…
Christopher Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, tells Guido:
“Phrases like ‘introducing pulses such as chickpeas to meals, limiting cheese-based main dishes and restricting desserts’ will strike fear into the heart of any school child. Anything that is supported by not only Jamie Oliver but also Emma Thompson is bound to be bad.”
He added:
“Actual childhood obesity is rare…There is not a lot of logical rationale behind this stuff.”
Previous food standards have been shown to have almost no impact on kids’ total diet. What matters happens beyond the school gates…
Boris spoke to GB News about Labour’s attempts to restrict donations:
“It looks absolutely pathetic. Just because some people want to support one party very generously, Labour kicks up a huge fuss and says they’re going to cap donations.
I just saw Richard Tice on your show just now. I have to say I rather agree with him.
They’ve got huge amounts of money – troughing it from the trade unions. It’s absolutely ridiculous Labour are trying to cap donations.”