HES 35 - Which?

Re: Consultation – Proposed Healthy Eating in Schools Measure Committee

Which? welcomes this opportunity to respond to the National Assembly for Wales Proposed Healthy in Schools Measure Committee consultation.

We consider that improving the quality of food in schools is a fundamental part of the broader strategy needed to tackle obesity and diet-related disease. This should extend to all aspects of food policy within schools from the teaching of food knowledge and food skills, the food choices available within schools and the types of food promotions that are permitted.

Our comments on the questions raised in the consultation document are set out below.

The need for an Assembly Measure

We have welcomed the Appetite for Life initiative, focusing on establishing standards for school meals and other food on offer within schools. We consider that this Measure is now necessary in order to give a legal basis to these standards and ensure their effective implementation, with supporting measures to ensure that children actually eat the healthier food on offer.

Key provisions

We agree with the key provisions, ie:

-placing a duty on Welsh Ministers, governing bodies, head teachers and local education authorities to promote healthy eating in schools;

-making healthy eating part of the inspection regime, including reporting requirements to Welsh Ministers, the Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales and governing bodies;

-giving Welsh Ministers the power to specify nutritional standards for food and drink provided for pupils on school premises;

-encouraging the take up of school meals and protection of the identity of those who receive them; and

-placing a duty on local education authorities to ensure the availability of drinking water for pupils.

Additional provisions

In addition, we consider that the Measure should go further in setting out requirements for the way that foods are to be promoted in schools. It should be ensured that food-related promotions are consistent with healthy eating messages and do not promote unhealthy foods or brands associated with them. This includes, for example competitions and sponsorship of school materials and school events. The Measure should specify that these promotions should only be permitted if they are for healthy foods. We believe that this additional measure is necessary if it is to achieve its overall purpose ‘to enable a holistic, comprehensive ‘made in Wales’ policy on nutrition in schools to be developed and implemented.’ This is in line with Action 3 of the Appetite for Life Action Plan which is to support schools in developing a whole school approach to food and nutrition.

I hope that these comments are helpful. We would be happy to discuss them in more detail if that would be useful.

Yours sincerely,

Sue Davies

Chief Policy Adviser