Nutrition and food standards in school meals

Primary schools

Fruit and vegetables

Lunchtime must include at least one 40g portion of fresh, tinned or frozen or 15g dried fruit and two 40g portions of vegetables. At all other times where food is provided one 40g fruit or vegetable or 15g dried fruit must be made available.

Oily fish

Must be provided at least once every 3 weeks

Red and processed red meat

Can only be available at lunchtime. At all other times no red or red processed meat. No more than 175g over the week, and only 100g of this can be processed red meat.

Sweetened baked products and desserts

Lunchtime - maximum of 3 times per week and less than 15g of sugar per portion.

At all other times less than 7g sugar, 13g fat and 4g of saturated fat per portion.

Breakfast cereal

Across the school day, no more than 15g of sugar, no more than 1.1g of salt and contain at least 3g of fibre per 100g.

Deep-fried foods

A maximum of 3 portions can be provided in a week. Chips must only be provided as part of a meal.

Savoury snacks

Lunchtime only - plain crackers, oatcakes and breadsticks. At all other times these and other pre-packed savoury snacks, such as crisps, must be a pack size no more than 25g and contain no more than 22g fat, 1.5g salt and 3g of sugar per 100g.

Bread

Across the school day must contain a minimum of 3g of fibre per 100g.

Sweetened yoghurts, fromage frais and milk-based desserts

The portion should be less than 125g and must contain less than 10g of sugar and 3g of fat per 100g.

Pastry and pastry products

Must not be provided more than twice a week across the school day.

Oils and spreads

Across the school day, spreads must not contain more than 20g of saturated fat per 100g and more than 30g per 100g of combined mono and poly and monosaturated fat.

Oils must not contain more than 16g of saturated fat per 100g and must contain at least 55g per 100g of monounsaturated fat or at least 30g per 100g of polyunsaturated fat.

Salt and condiments

Across the school day, no salt should be provided.

Condiments can be provided when included in the menu, but must be dispensed in no more than 10ml portions.

Confectionary

Across the school day, no confectionery can be offered. This includes chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery.

Drinks

Across the school day, drinking water must be provided.

In addition, the following drinks can be provided:

  • plain semi skimmed milk
  • flavoured semi skimmed milk with no added sugars
  • no added sugar lower fat drinking yoghurt

Page last modified: 10 March 2026