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A draconian approach to healthy eating within the secondary schools of Scotland may be actually teaching pupils to eat junk food, according to claims.

Since national policies were introduced that determine the amount of vitamins and fat in school lunches their uptake has reduced.  In the country’s largest area, Glasgow, uptake of school lunches has dropped from 61% of pupils to 38% this year, which is mirrored across Scotland.

Managing director of Cordia, the company that prepares school meals to Glasgow schools, has said it is time to look over the policy, which is moving students to choose burger vans and deep-fried pizzas.

Fergus Chambers stated that as the caterers are forced to look at nutritional requirements they are becoming more like chemists and less like cooks, provoking children to look elsewhere for food, which includes unhealthy options.

The drive to follow nutritional requirements began in 2006 when the Scottish Executive passed an initiative that offered options with more nutritional value.

During last year, regulations were put in place that set the minimum levels for key nutrients such as iron, zinc, fibre, and calcium while limiting the amount of total and saturated fat that could be in one meal.  Additionally, pupils must be offered two portions of vegetables and fruit at each meal, with deep-fried food items only on the menu once per week.

Chambers stated that the problem is worse in urban areas where students can easily leave school and find fast food options.

Head of the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland stated that universal free meals may be the best way to improve the diets of students as they will then take the option handed to them.

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