Food campaigners are urging the government to ban cakes and biscuits from school lunchtimes, citing concerns over the high sugar content in these snacks.
The call, made by the public health group Action on Sugar, which is composed of nutritionists and health experts from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), is aimed at overhauling the existing school food standards. The group argues that these sugary treats should be excluded from school menus due to their contribution to childhood obesity and related health problems.
Currently, under the school food standards, schools in England are allowed to serve cakes, biscuits, and other sweet items as part of students’ lunch options. These include store-bought and homemade desserts such as cakes, pastries, and scones. However, Action on Sugar’s recent analysis revealed that many of these foods contain as much as 12 teaspoons of sugar per serving. For example, Ritter Sport marzipan bars contain 51g of sugar per packet, while other varieties, like the whole hazelnut options, have 44g, which is equivalent to 11 teaspoons.
Dr. Kawther Hashem, a public health nutrition lecturer at QMUL and the head of research at Action on Sugar, highlighted the urgency of the situation. “These findings reinforce the need for a complete ban on cakes and biscuits under the school food standards,” she said. “We have a duty to every child to make schools a sanctuary from unnecessary sugar so they can grow up healthier and free from diet-related diseases.”
Action on Sugar also warned that the current rules may be contributing to children exceeding their daily sugar intake. The group pointed to the potential for a child to consume up to 23 teaspoons of sugar in one day if they eat a cake at lunch, a chocolate bar after school, and biscuits later in the evening.
In addition to banning sugary snacks in schools, the campaigners are also calling for an expansion of the sugar tax, which currently applies only to soft drinks, to include confectionery and other high-sugar products.
Responding to the campaign, a government spokesperson emphasized the importance of healthy eating in schools. “We encourage all schools to promote healthy eating and provide nutritious food and drink,” they said. “We recently launched new training for school governors to ensure they understand the School Food Standards and can provide children with nutritious food throughout the school day.”
The spokesperson also reiterated the government’s broader aim of fostering the healthiest generation of children by focusing on prevention, including limiting access to fast food.
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