Project summary

From September 2014 all infant schoolchildren in Reception, year 1 and year 2 in state funded schools in England are offered a free lunch as part of a policy known as Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM). This policy was also introduced in Scotland in January 2015. The UIFSM policy extends the previous scheme which was based on narrower eligibility criteria and is intended to have several positive outcomes including improving family finances, social mobility and health benefits for children. The removal of the previous eligibility criteria for free school meals also means that the UIFSM policy has the potential to reduce inequalities in nutrition and health outcomes.

We used national representative dietary survey data collected between 2010-2017 to assess impact of the UIFSM policy on lunchtime and overall nutritional intakes in infant schoolchildren, and whether policy impact differed by socio-economic background. Furthermore, we examined, more broadly, the contents and nutritional quality of school meals and packed lunches consumed by primary and secondary schoolchildren in the United Kingdom.

Our findings suggest that the UIFSM policy has led to a reduction in the consumption of crisps, and dietary intakes of total fat and salt during school lunchtime, particularly among children of low-income families. However, we did not observe a change in the consumption fruit and vegetables, or sugar-sweetened beverages, as well as dietary intake of sugar. Our comparison of school lunch quality using this national sample showed school meals were superior especially in the provision of vegetables and limiting the consumption of sweet and savoury snacks. However, school meals were not yet optimal (e.g. >30% of them still contained sweet snacks) and their quality declined with advancing age. Further improvement in school food quality is essential to better realise the benefits of the UIFSM policy and lunchtime nutritional intakes of schoolchildren.

What does this mean for public health professionals?

In this project we used representative data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey. We found that the Universal Infant Free School Meals policy in England and Scotland has led to a reduction in consumption of foods associated with packed lunches, such as crisps, wholemeal and dairy products and an increase in consumption of foods associated with school meals, such as puddings. These changes were accompanied by a reduction in total fat and sodium intake; however, there was no detectable change in the amount of sugar consumed. Importantly, policy impact appeared to be greater for children of low-income families.

What does this mean for the public?

Our project findings showed that uptake of school meals increased following the Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) policy in England and Scotland. Implementation of the UIFSM policy has led to a reduction in the consumption of crisps, and dietary intakes of total fat and salt during school lunchtime. However, we did not observe a change in the consumption fruit and vegetables, or sugar-sweetened beverages, as well as dietary intake of sugar. Nevertheless, the beneficial impact of the UIFSM on lunchtime diet and nutritional intakes were found greatest among children of low-income families.

Featured image Uptake and outcomes associated with Universal Infant Free School Meals in England

Publications

Chang, K., Khandpur, N., Neri, D, et al. Association Between Childhood Consumption of Ultraprocessed Food and Adiposity Trajectories in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children Birth Cohort. JAMA Pediatr. 2021;175(9)

Rauber, F., Chang, K., Vamos, E.P, et al. Ultra-processed food consumption and risk of obesity: a prospective cohort study of UK Biobank. Eur J Nutr 60, 2169–2180 (2021).

Parnham J., Millett C., Chang K., Laverty A, et al. Is the Healthy Start scheme associated with increased food expenditure in low-income families with young children in the United Kingdom? Pre-print

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Universal Infant Free School Meals in England: Uptake and outcomes

Project summary

What does this mean for public health professionals?

What does this mean for the public?

Publications

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