Fried nuggets and steamed sponges off menu in school food overhaul in England

Campaigners welcome first update of school food standards in 13 years, which aims to help lower obesity rates

The government is to announce an overhaul to school food standards in England that will lead to calorific classics such as fish and chips and steamed sponges being banned.

The new rules of the first major update to school food standards in 13 years will apply from September. They are part of efforts to lower the rates of childhood obesity, with data for 2024 released by the NHS in January showing that 24% of nursery and primary school children were overweight or living with obesity.