HES 40 - Ceredigion County Council

Observations of Ceredigion County Council on the Proposed Healthy Eating in Schools Measure 2008

The Measure is welcomed for its holistic approach towards provision and consumption of healthy school meals that covers both the nutritional standards of school meals as well as educating school pupils on of the benefits of healthy eating through the school curriculum.

A fundamental starting point in the provision of healthy school meals is that the food provided must satisfy food safety requirements and be prepared in accordance with good food hygiene practice. The Welsh Food Hygiene Award recognises those premises that meet the highest standards of hygiene practice (gold, silver or bronze levels). It is reasonable to expect that all schools’ catering facilities should meet the bronze standard as a minimum. Any Measure should also be robust enough to ensure that its requirements could be adequately included in contracts taken out by LEAs and School Governing Bodies for catering services by external providers as well as its own in-house service.

Concern is expressed that the Measure covers only the provision of meals on the school premises. Clarity is needed as to whether this covers food and drink provided in vending machines and tuck shops. Would vending machines offering unhealthy options therefore be prohibited? Furthermore, there remains little control over packed lunches and mobile vans operating outside school gates. It is acknowledged that whilst local authorities have powers to introduce byelaws relating to prohibition of street trading, this can be resource intensive to implement and administer. In the case of secondary schools, if restrictions are not in place to prohibit pupils from leaving the school grounds, then during break times they can purchase snacks, fast foods, etc. from nearby outlets.

The proposed measure includes the requirement for schools to supply drinking water free of charge. Again, this is welcomed although it is considered that in line with the underlying requirement of promoting sustainable development, that further detail should be placed in the measure to specify that this supply should be piped mains supply where practicable (as opposed to bottled water or chilled dispensers).

It is welcomed that this proposed Measure serves to provide a statutory basis for several recommendations of Appetite for Life which is currently being piloted in four areas in Wales (with Ceredigion being one of these pilot areas). It is urged that the lessons learnt from these pilot areas be taken on board prior to the Measure being agreed, and prior to any further regulations and guidance being issued. Concern is already being expressed that the financial implications of Appetite for Life are high. For example, the barriers often quoted by school pupils against consuming school meals include: long queues, poor/lack of dining room, cost. A considerable capital investment is therefore required in many schools to overcome some of these barriers.

The Council welcomes the suggested protection of the identity of pupils receiving free school meals which is also at times a barrier to take-up.

As well as capital investment in improving provision of school meals, the increasing costs of producing healthy school meals must also be adequately covered. With increasing fuel costs, rural local authorities in particular are seeing a steep increase in ingredient costs over and above the additional costs of producing healthy school meals. These costs must be considered in the revenue provided to local authorities in the implementation of this Measure.

The improvement in the nutritional standards for school meals through Appetite for Life and this Measure is also welcomed in view of the recently launched Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) Healthy Options Award scheme which aims to encourage the improvement and provision of healthy options in most food catering establishments. Although lacking any statutory or Assembly backing, the Healthy Options Award Scheme is seen as contributing towards the campaign to increase availability and promotion of healthy options and to reduce levels of obesity.

Denfer Morgan

Chief Administration Officer
Chief Executive’s Department
Ceredigion County Council
Neuadd Cyngor Ceredigion