Response to School Food Trust food based standards for lunch." September 2006.

This statement from Merton Parents for Better Food in School is in response to the new standards that have been announced by the School Food Trust. Please see http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/

"Merton Parents are delighted with the new standards being introduced this September. We are particularly pleased with the restrictions on manufactured meat products. It has long been our aim to replace these reconstituted meat products with real meat and poultry.

Each school meal must now contain at least 2 servings of fruit and vegetables. Caterers must ensure that this actually happens.

These new standards are mandatory so schools will have a legal obligation to comply. Our concern is how will we know if schools are failing to comply? Our past experiences have shown how difficult it is for parents to find out exactly what is being served up to the children. Who is going to monitor these new standards in each borough and indeed in each individual school? How can we ensure that both parents and the children have a voice in this? In the past when children have complained of food running out they were ignored.

These standards are an excellent step forward. We have a responsibility to our children to ensure that schools and caterers actually meet them. Childhood obesity is a serious threat. Doing nothing is not an option."

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