The Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014

law://uk/uksi/2014/1603@2026-11-12

Contents

1Citation and commencement#

These Regulations may be cited as the Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014 and come into force on 1st January 2015.

2Interpretation#

(1)In these Regulations—• ^note...“the Products Containing Meat etc. Regulations” means the Products Containing Meat etc. (England) Regulations 2014;• “boarding school” means a school which has boarding pupils, whether or not it also has day pupils;• “confectionery” includes chewing gum, cereal bars, processed fruit bars, non-chocolate confectionery (whether or not containing sugar), chocolate in any form (except hot chocolate), any product containing or wholly or partially coated with chocolate and any chocolate-flavoured substance, but excludes cocoa powder used in cakes, biscuits and puddings or in a drink listed in group E of Schedule 1;• “food” includes drink;• “fruit juice” means a product that complies with the specification in Schedule 2 (Specification for Fruit Juice) or Schedule 3 (Specification for Fruit Juice from Concentrate) to the Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars (England) Regulations 2013;• “governing body” includes the management committee of a pupil referral unit;• “lower fat milk” means milk the fat content of which has been reduced to not more than 1.8%;• “meat” means the skeletal muscles of mammalian and bird species recognised as fit for human consumption with naturally included or adherent tissue but does not include mechanically separated meat (which has the meaning given in point 1.14 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin);• ^note...• “oily fish” includes anchovies, herring, kipper, mackerel, pilchards, salmon, sardines, trout, tuna (but not canned tuna) and whitebait;• “portion” means an amount of a particular food provided to an individual as part of a meal;• product containing meat” has the same meaning as “regulated product” in regulation 2 of the Products Containing Meat etc. Regulations;• “sandwiches” includes filled rolls and similar products which are ready to eat without further preparation;• “school lunch” means food provided for consumption by pupils as their midday meal on a school day, whether involving a set meal or the selection of items by them or otherwise;• “snacks” means pre-packaged items other than confectionery, sandwiches, cakes or biscuits which are ready to eat without further preparation and which consist of or include as a basic ingredient potato, cereals, soya, nuts, seeds, fruit or vegetables;• “transfer of control agreement” has the same meaning as in paragraph 2(7) of Schedule 13 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998;• “vegetable juice” means juice extracted from vegetables with no other substance added, except that any water extracted during concentration may be restored;• “week” means the five days from Monday to Friday;• “wholegrain” means made with or containing whole unprocessed grains.

(2)Nothing in these Regulations applies to food provided—

(a)at parties or celebrations to mark religious or cultural occasions;

(b)at fund-raising events;

(c)as rewards for achievement, good behaviour or effort;

(d)for use in teaching food preparation and cookery skills, including where the food prepared is served to pupils as part of a school lunch; or

(e)on an occasional basis by parents or pupils.

(3)For the purpose of these Regulations food is divided into the groups and sub-groups shown in Schedule 1, and any reference to a group or sub-group is a reference to one of those groups or sub-groups.

(4)Where a school is open for fewer than five days in any week the requirements in Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 which refer to the number of times food must or must not be provided by reference to a week apply as if the school were open for the whole of that week.

(5)Regulations 3, 4 and 5 do not apply to food provided in nursery schools or nursery units within primary schools.

3Lunch Requirements#

(1)This regulation applies to a school lunch provided to—

(a)registered pupils at a maintained school or a pupil referral unit, and

(b)any other person on the school premises.

(2)The requirements set out in Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 must be complied with.

4Provision of other food#

(1)Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), food provided to pupils on school premises on a school day before 6 p.m. otherwise than as part of a school lunch must be provided in accordance with the requirements set out in Schedule 3 and Schedule 4.

(2)Paragraph (1) does not apply in relation to any part of the school premises which is under the control of a person or body other than the governing body by virtue of a transfer of control agreement.

(3)The requirements set out in paragraph 6 of Schedule 3 and paragraphs 2 to 4 of Schedule 4 do not apply in relation to confectionery, snacks, cakes or biscuits provided to pupils at a boarding school as part of an evening meal.

5Provision of other food#

(1)This regulation applies to food provided by a local authority or governing body to pupils on a school trip where the trip is for at least seven days.

(2)Where food is provided on a school day before 6 p.m. otherwise than as part of a school lunch, this must be provided in accordance with the requirements set out in Schedule 3 and Schedule 4.

6Drinks#

The supply of drinking water required by regulation 9(1) of the School Premises (England) Regulations 2012 must be provided free of charge at all times to registered pupils on the school premises.

7Drinks#

Fruit juice provided in schools must not contain any added vitamins or minerals.

8Drinks#

(1)Subject to paragraph (2), drinks provided in schools must not contain any added substances other than—

(a)food additives in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food additives; and

(b)any substances mentioned in group E.

(2)Drinks included in sub-group E2 (combination drinks) may also contain flavourings in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on flavourings and certain food ingredients with flavouring properties for use in and on foods and amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 1601/91, Regulations (EC) No 2232/96 and (EC) No 110/2008 and Directive 2000/13/EC.

9Milk#

(1)Lower fat milk and lactose reduced milk (sub-group D1) must be made available on every school day at a time during school hours.

(2)For the purposes of this regulation, “school hours” means any time during a school session or during a break between school sessions.

10Nurseries#

(1)Subject to paragraph (2), school lunches provided in maintained nursery schools and nursery units within primary schools must comply with the requirements in Schedule 5.

(2)If at any time the requirements in Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 are complied with in respect of school lunches provided in a maintained nursery school or a nursery unit within a primary school, paragraph (1) shall not apply in relation to that school or unit.

11Revocation#

The Education (Nutritional Standards and Requirements for School Food) (England) Regulations 2007 are revoked on 1st January 2015.

Schedule 1 · Food groups

Schedule 2 · School lunch requirements

(1)One or more portions of food from sub-group A1 must be provided every day.

(2)A type of bread from sub-group A2 must be available every day.

(3)Three or more different foods from sub-group A1 must be provided every week, but this requirement will not be met if the different foods are provided in a single portion.

(4)One or more of the portions of food from sub-group A1 that is provided every week must be wholegrain.

(5)One or more portions of food from sub-group B2 (vegetables) must be provided every day.

(6)One or more portions of food from sub-group B1 (fruit) must be provided every day.

(7)A fruit-based dessert with a content of at least 50% fruit measured by volume of raw ingredients must be provided two or more times every week.

(8)Three or more different foods from sub-group B1 (fruit) must be provided every week, but this requirement will not be met if the different foods are provided in a single portion.

(9)At least three different foods from sub-group B2 (vegetables) must be provided every week, but this requirement will not be met if the different foods are provided in a single portion.

(10)A portion of food from group C must be provided every day.

(11)A portion of meat or poultry must be provided on three or more days every week.

(12)Oily fish must be provided once or more every three weeks.

(13)A portion of non-dairy sources of protein must be provided on three or more days every week.

(14)A portion of food in sub-group D2 must be provided every day.

(15)Savoury crackers or breadsticks which are served with food groups B or D may be provided as part of a school lunch.

Schedule 3 · Requirements for food provided as part of a school lunch or otherwise

(1)Food from sub-group A1 which is cooked in fat or oil must not be provided on more than two days each week.

(2)

(1)Subject to sub-paragraph (5), products containing meat may not be provided more than once each week in primary schools and twice each week in secondary schools, and where they are provided they must be provided in accordance with this paragraph.

(2)Any shaped product comprising a mixture of meat and other ingredients which is not included in the reserved descriptions specified in Schedule 1 to the Products Containing Meat etc. Regulations may only be provided if it complies with the meat content requirements for “Burger” in that Schedule.

(3)No product containing meat shall be provided if it contains any carcase part listed in regulation 5(2) of the Products Containing Meat etc. Regulations , subject to the exception in regulation 5(3) of those Regulations.

(4)No economy burgers as defined in Schedule 1 to the Products Containing Meat etc. Regulations may be provided.

(5)In respect of boarding schools, products containing meat may not be provided more than twice each week as part of a school lunch, and where they are provided (whether as part of a school lunch or otherwise) they must be provided in accordance with sub-paragraphs (2) to (4).

(3)No more than two portions of food that has been deep-fried, batter-coated or breadcrumb-coated may be provided each week.

(4)No more than two portions of food which includes pastry may be provided each week.

(5)

(1)No snacks may be provided, except for nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruit with no added salt, sugar or fat.

(2)Where dried fruit is provided it must have no more than 0.5% vegetable oil as a glazing agent.

(6)Confectionery must not be provided.

(7)Salt must not be available to add to food after the cooking process is complete.

(8)Condiments may only be available in sachets or individual portions of no more than 10 grams or one teaspoonful.

(9)The only drinks that may be provided are those in group E, except that whole milk may be provided for pupils up to the end of the school year in which they attain the age of five.

Schedule 4 · Requirements for food provided otherwise than as part of a school lunch

(1)Either fruit or vegetables, or both fruit and vegetables must be available in any place on the school premises where food is provided.

(2)Savoury crackers and breadsticks must not be provided.

(3)Cakes and biscuits must not be provided.

(4)Desserts must not be provided, other than—

(a)yoghurt; or

(b)fruit-based desserts (with a content of at least 50% fruit measured by volume of raw ingredients).

Schedule 5 · Requirements for school lunches provided at maintained nursery schools and nursery units within primary schools

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

The Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014

The Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014

1Citation and commencement#

2Interpretation#

3Lunch Requirements#

4Provision of other food#

5Provision of other food#

6Drinks#

7Drinks#

8Drinks#

9Milk#

10Nurseries#

11Revocation#

Schedule 1 · Food groups

Schedule 2 · School lunch requirements

Schedule 3 · Requirements for food provided as part of a school lunch or otherwise

Schedule 4 · Requirements for food provided otherwise than as part of a school lunch

Schedule 5 · Requirements for school lunches provided at maintained nursery schools and nursery units within primary schools

Connections

Defined terms · 18

History · 2 versions

1Citation and commencement#

2Interpretation#

3Lunch Requirements#

4Provision of other food#

5Provision of other food#

6Drinks#

7Drinks#

8Drinks#

9Milk#

10Nurseries#

11Revocation#

Schedule 1 · Food groups

Schedule 2 · School lunch requirements

Schedule 3 · Requirements for food provided as part of a school lunch or otherwise

Schedule 4 · Requirements for food provided otherwise than as part of a school lunch

Schedule 5 · Requirements for school lunches provided at maintained nursery schools and nursery units within primary schools

Key facts