England to ban fried school food
England plans to ban deep-fried food from all school breakfasts and lunches as part of a wide menu overhaul aimed at child health, with implementation set from September 2027. (The policy change was reported as a government-backed package developed with nutritionists and public-health experts and described as the biggest menu overhaul since 2012.) (metro.co.uk) (dailymail.co.uk) Media write-ups add that the rules will also seek to reduce “grab-and-go” unhealthy items and sugary treats. (mirror.co.uk)
England will ban deep-fried food from school breakfasts and lunches under new national menu rules due to start from September 2027. (gov.uk) The Department for Education said the changes are the first overhaul of School Food Standards in more than a decade and will apply across maintained schools and academies in England. Ministers also opened a nine-week consultation on April 13, 2026. (gov.uk) Under the proposals, schools would no longer be able to serve high-sugar and high-fat items every day, including “grab-and-go” foods such as sausage rolls and pizza, and fruit would replace sugary treats for most of the school week. (gov.uk) The government said schools will be asked to serve more fruit, vegetables, pulses and wholegrains, with examples including wholemeal bread, brown pasta and rice, plus a portion of vegetables or salad with every main meal. (news.sky.com) Ministers tied the overhaul to child health data already driving school-food policy in England. Public Health England’s National Child Measurement Programme says 1 in 3 children leaving primary school are overweight or living with obesity. (fingertips.phe.org.uk) The government also pointed to dental harm from high-sugar diets. NHS England data cited by the Royal College of Surgeons show tooth decay was the leading cause of hospital admissions among children aged 5 to 9 in England in 2024-25. (rcseng.ac.uk) School food rules already exist in England, but the current framework dates to the Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014 and requires schools to provide fruit, vegetables, starchy foods, dairy, and regular servings of meat, poultry and oily fish. (legislation.gov.uk) (gov.uk) The new package also includes a stronger enforcement system. Sky News and Schools Week reported that ministers plan national monitoring, and Schools Week said schools will be asked to publish menus and food policies online for parents to inspect. (news.sky.com) (schoolsweek.co.uk) The rollout will not hit every school change at once. Sky News reported the enforcement regime is expected from September 2027, while Schools Week said some secondary schools will have until September 2028 for parts of the drinks, desserts and “grab-and-go” changes. (news.sky.com) (schoolsweek.co.uk) The immediate next step is consultation, not an overnight menu switch. The government said it will gather responses from parents and children before publishing its response, with the new standards then moving toward the 2027 school-year deadline. (gov.uk) (schoolsweek.co.uk)
