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Government reviews school meals to tackle high processed meat in canteens

Charities warn processed-meat menus raise children’s cancer risk, prompting calls to cut back weekly meat servings

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More than a third of meat eaten by children is processed, according to analysis from the charity

Overview

  • The Food Foundation found over a third of meat eaten by children is processed, with 80% of popular school dishes made from red or processed meat such as ham, sausages and chicken nuggets.
  • The World Health Organization classifies processed meats as carcinogenic and Cancer Research UK links them to 13% of Britain’s 42,000 annual bowel cancer cases, as well as increased diabetes and heart disease risk.
  • Current School Food Standards require meat or poultry three times a week, but charities argue this rule should be relaxed to allow greater use of beans, pulses, wholegrains and vegetables.
  • Rebecca Tobi of the Food Foundation says the UK’s food system favors cheap processed meat, making healthier options less accessible and affordable for many families.
  • The Department for Education has opened a review of School Food Standards and is consulting stakeholders on stronger procurement rules to limit processed meat in schools.