All menus are planned to comply with tough new food and nutrient standards. Please click on the image below for comprehensive details.
Healthy Schools Standard
Lancashire County Commercial Services are pleased to be members of the Lancashire Healthy Eating Development Group, a part of the Lancashire Healthy Schools Programme. The group was formed recently and tasked with developing a nutritional policy for school lunches in Lancashire which links with school objectives.
A draft policy covering nutritional policy and menu specification and purchasing issues in both primary and high schools has been put forward for inclusion in the Healthy Schools Standard. The policy is due to be debated by the group when it meets next in March.
LCCS are taking action on a range of issues concerning improvements to nutrition which will affect all schools however it is recognised that individual schools may wish to discuss specific action plans. LCCS Managers are available to support schools in this process.
Watch out for more news on nutrition in schools by clicking onto the news page of this site.
Nutritional Analysis
A great deal of the current debate about nutrition on the national stage centres on the relevant merits of energy providing foods and in particular how much energy is derived from fat and how much from starchy and sugar rich foods. We believe that school lunches should provide for a balance between the values provided by the different food groups. We are also aware of the need to monitor the use of additives and also the levels of salt and sugar.
We are doing two things to evaluate and monitor the nutritional content of meals:
- In co-operation with the Lancashire County Council Analyst we will be analysing the nutritional content of menu items so that we have more information available to us during the menu planning process
- We have a data base available to us which, through the procurement process, provides up to date information on the product ingredient list.
Legislation
As you would expect, there is a great deal of legislation surrounding the food and catering industry.
The main Statutory Instruments being Food Hygiene (General) Regulations 1970 as updated by the 1990, 1991 and 1995 amendment regulations.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, The Food Act 1984.
The Food Labelling Regulations 1984.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Act 1989.
The Food Safety Act 1990.
In terms of nutritional content of meals the other main piece of Legislation affecting the school catering service is The Education (Nutritional Standards for School Lunches) (England) Regulations 2000 which came into force on 1st April 2001.
The Governments view is that School Lunches menus are based on the Wheel of Good Health and are planned to provide a balanced range of popular choices for your child to enjoy. We are committed to healthy eating and work in close partnership with schools to promote an awareness of good nutrition. A balanced nutritious school meal provides all the energy your child needs for a day of work and play.
The standards state that lunches for primary school pupils must contain at least one item from each of the food groups:
 Starchy foods such as bread, potatoes, rice and pasta. Starchy food cooked in oil or fat should not be served more than three times a week. - Fruit and a vegetable must be available every day. Fruit based desserts must be available twice a week.
- Milk and dairy foods.
- Meat, fish and alternative sources of protein. Red meat must be served at least twice a week. Fish must be served at least once a week.
Cheese may be included in the meat/fish protein group for primary children.
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