Big Food in Schools: What’s Really Happening in Our Canteens?

Healthy food in schools should be a no-brainer. So why are canteens in England still flooded with food that doesn’t fuel us?

Right now, young people are being let down by a system that puts profit before health. Cheap, grab-and-go school food is everywhere, while proper meals are pushed out. And with no real accountability, no one is being held responsible.

For the first time in decades, the rules are being rewritten. The Government is reviewing the English school food standards. This is our moment to fix school food for good.

What’s happening
vs
what should be happening

What’s happening right now

  • Junk food is flooding school canteens
  • Cheap options = unhealthy options
  • Students are treated like customers, not kids
  • Big food companies shape what’s on offer
  • No one is properly checking what’s being served

What should be happening

  • Healthy, tasty food available to every student
  • Fair pricing that supports better choices
  • Food that reflects cultures, needs, and real lives
  • Young people involved in decisions
  • Clear standards actually enforced

“

It looks tempting at first… but week after week, it becomes beige, bland and boring. We don’t only want junk. We want food that actually fuels us.

Shalom

Student

WHAT THIS MEANS

English school food isn’t failing by accident, it's being shaped by a system that prioritises profit over young people.

Unhealthy grab-and-go school food dominates because it’s cheap to produce and easy to sell. Meanwhile, there’s little monitoring to make sure schools meet basic food standards.

Young people are left with limited choices, rising prices, shorter lunch breaks and food that doesn’t keep them full or focused. And despite being the ones most affected, their voices are too often ignored.

This is a critical moment to fix English school food and it’s entirely possible.

We can fix this
but only if we act now

Young people are clear:
They want food that fuels them, reflects them, and supports their future.

And right now, the Government is reviewing school food.

This is a once in a generation opportunity to get it right.

Full report - Coming soon