School Standards and Framework Act 1998

114 Nutritional standards for school lunches

(1) Regulations may prescribe nutritional standards, or other nutritional requirements, which (subject to such exceptions as may be provided for by or under the regulations) are to be complied with in connection with the provision of school lunches for registered pupils at schools maintained by local education authorities.

(2) Where a local education authority or the governing body provide school lunches for registered pupils at such a school, they shall secure that any applicable provisions of regulations under this section are complied with.

(3) Subsection (2) applies—

(a) whether the lunches are provided on school premises or at any other place where education is being provided; and

(b) whether they are being provided in pursuance of any statutory requirement or otherwise.

(4) Regulations under this section may—

(a) make different provision for pupils of different ages;

(b) authorise the Secretary of State to determine the time as from which any provisions of the regulations are to apply to a particular local education authority or school.

(5) In this section “school lunch”, in relation to a pupil, means food made available for consumption by the pupil as his midday meal on a school day, whether involving a set meal or the selection of items by him or otherwise.