School food reform needs published feasibility data

Agreement: I Agree Body: Dear Editor Borland’s investigation shows why England’s proposed school food standards cannot be judged by menu specifications alone. High-margin chocolate, muffins, and soft drinks are reported to help offset losses on nutritious plated meals that cost more to produce and are less popular, while caterers fear that pupils may reject healthier menus and switch to snack-heavy packed lunches.[1] These concerns bear directly on whether the policy changes what pupils actually eat. The Department for Education commissioned Verian to test practicality, cost, acceptability, and procurement in schools in autumn 2025; the findings informed phased implementation in secondary schools.[2] The consultation reports the resulting timetable and a minimum 12-month lead-in, but not quantitative findings on implementation costs or pupil and parent acceptability. Nor does it say whether likely effects on school-meal uptake were assessed. That gap is material because a House of Lords committee had already heard that existing funding does not always cover the cost of meeting current standards.[3] Without those results, menu compliance could be mistaken for policy success. Healthier food may be offered while fewer pupils buy and eat school meals; meals that remain financially unviable or less acceptable may also leave intact the incentives favouring the products the standards seek to displace. Before finalising the standards, the Department for Education should publish the methods and quantitative findings of its 2025 feasibility testing on cost and acceptability, including the pupil and parent survey results, reported separately for primary and secondary schools where the design permits. The relevant test is whether healthier meals can be delivered and chosen at scale, not whether compliant menus can be written. References 1. Borland S. Junk food suppliers have "shocking" major presence at UK's biggest school food event. BMJ 2026;394:e100552. doi:10.1136/bmj-2026-100552. 2. Department for Education, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. School Food Standards: updating the legislative framework. Government consultation. 13 Apr 2026. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/school-food-standards-updati... (accessed 31 Aug 2026). 3. House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee. Recipe for health: a plan to fix our broken food system. Report of Session 2024-26. HL Paper 19. 24 Oct 2024: paras 415-417. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5901/ldselect/ldmfdo/19/1910.htm (accessed 31 Aug 2026). No competing Interests: Yes The following competing Interests: Electronic Publication Date: Monday, August 31, 2026 - 12:42 AI use: No, I have not used AI Highwire Comment Subject: Junk food suppliers have “shocking” major presence at UK’s biggest school food event Workflow State: Released Full Title: School food reform needs published feasibility data Highwire Comment Response to: Junk food suppliers have “shocking” major presence at UK’s biggest school food event Check this box if you would like your letter to appear anonymously:: Last Name: Wu First name and middle initial: Xiaojuan Email: xiger6666@126.com Address: Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China Occupation: Physician Affiliation: Ganzhou People’s Hospital, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China BMJ: Additional Article Info: Rapid response