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School meals have been the focus of much interest nationally in recent years.

There have been concerns over the nutritional quality of the food provided (including the Jamie Oliver campaign) plus evidence of an increase in child obesity.

The Health Survey England in 2002 found that 16.6% boys and 16.7% girls aged 2-15 were obese and a further 13.6% boys and 14.3% girls were overweight. The Survey also found that most children eat too much fat, added sugar and salt and only eat two of the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables each day.

In March 2005 the Secretary of State for Education and Skills announced a package of measures designed to improve significantly the quality of school meals.

These included:

• New nutritional standards for school food

• The establishment of a School Food Trust to advise and support

• Additional funding to authorities & schools of £220m between 2005 & 2008

• New qualifications for catering staff

• New arrangements for monitoring food standards through Ofsted

• priority for the building and refurbishment of kitchens