School meals in the UK

By Smitha Peter

According to United Nations Convention, every child has a right to not to go hungry and provision of free school meals is a way to address this problem. But how effective is the school meal program in UK at present? “More than one million children living in poverty don’t qualify for free school meals as per current policy and 39% of those who are eligible won’t take them,” said Professor Martin Caraher, Centre for Food Policy, City University in his lecture on the topic ‘Food Poverty and Inequality: The growth of hunger in the UK’.

Current policy excludes secondary school children from working house holds with a low income. This means around 60% of secondary students living in poor household are not eligible for free school meals. At the same time many children who are eligible won’t take it because of the issues related to stigma and availability of low priced unhealthy food.

The Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey by Food Standard Agency reveal that children from low income families eat more fast food and processed meat than those from richer background. They often eat inadequate level of iron, folate and vitamin D.

The Survey also observed that 36% of low-income population cannot afford to eat balanced meals, 22% report reducing or skipping meals and 5% do not have enough money to eat for a full day. Local variation in food prices makes the existing situation worse.

Providing free school meals to all children from households earning below £20,000 a year would cost an extra £1.53 billion a year. However, it can reduce the cost of health related diseases and can increase work place productivity in long run. At present child poverty costs the health care system £2 billion a year.

Children currently eligible for free school meals:

1. Children whose parents are getting
   • Income support
   • Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
   • Income-related employment and supporters allowance
   • Support under part VI of immigration and asylum act
   • The guarantee credit of pension credit
2. Children whose parents are workless, with an annual income of £16,190 or less
3. Primary school children from working house hold with an income below £16,190

Children who are not eligible:

1. Secondary school children from working households with a low income
2. Primary school children whose parents have a household income over £16,190

Other Elements articles in which you might be interested:

1. Food additives: Interview with Prof. Martin Caraher