Government willing to discuss school food proposals

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) told FoodManufacture.co.uk the proposals would be negotiated at length with the concerned parties.

These would include UK dairy trade body Dairy UK, which claimed the Commission had “seriously misjudged”​ the health benefits of cheese and yogurt.

The DEFRA spokesman said: “We will study the proposals carefully, in consultation with the dairy industry. We liaise regularly with Dairy UK and will be keen to take their views into consideration.” ​ 

30M children​

Commission proposals published yesterday (January 30) to combine two currently separate school food schemes – the School Fruit Scheme and the School Milk Scheme – did not include yogurt and cheese.

Ceo of Dairy UK Judith Bryans said 30M children could potentially miss out on the “substantial health benefits”​ of the original School Milk Scheme. That system included the subsidised daily provision and promotion of milk and milk products, including cheese and yogurt, for school children.

Bryans said the organisation recognised the benefits of streamlining the two schemes into one, but “we strongly believe that the Commission has seriously misjudged the very substantial nutritional benefits that would be delivered to children by the inclusion of yogurt and cheese in the scheme.”​

Concern​

Provision Trade Federation director general Clare Cheney said she would be concerned about a proposal that did not include dairy products other than milk, and whole heartedly supported Dairy UK’s request for them to be included in the scheme.

Bryans said Dairy UK was preparing to raise the matter with DEFRA and would work with colleagues in Europe to ensure the issue was addressed before the proposals went forward.

Nearly 30M children Europe-wide benefit every year from the School Milk Scheme – set up in 1977 – and the School Fruit Scheme – set up in 2009.

More relevant today​

The Commission said the need for the schemes seemed more relevant today, when consumption of fruits, vegetables and milk in most countries was below the recommended daily intake.

Figures from the Commission also suggested drinking milk consumption was in decline, as children were choosing more processed products.

In 2012 the World Health Organisation estimated that nearly one in three EU children aged between six and nine were overweight or obese, which is compared to one in four in 2008.

Poor nutrition​

New proposals would aim to reverse a decline in consumption of milk, fruit and vegetables among children, as well as address poor nutrition more effectively, said the Commission.

Commissioner for agriculture and rural development, Dacian Cioloş, said the new scheme would reinforce nutritional education and help fight obesity within schools and urban areas.

“We want to build on the existing schemes, to reverse the downward trend in consumption and raise awareness among children of the potential benefits of these products. This is an important measure for bringing sustained changes in children’s eating habits,” ​said Cioloş.