The Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

“the Meat Products Regulations” means the Meat Products (England) Regulations 2003(1);

“boarding school” means a school which has boarding pupils, whether or not it also has day pupils;

“confectionery” includes chewing gum, cereal bars, processed fruit bars, non-chocolate confectionery (whether or not containing sugar), chocolate in any form (except hot chocolate), any product containing or wholly or partially coated with chocolate and any chocolate-flavoured substance, but excludes cocoa powder used in cakes, biscuits and puddings or in a drink listed in group E of Schedule 1;

“food” includes drink;

“fruit juice” means a product that complies with the specification in Schedule 2 (Specification for Fruit Juice) or Schedule 3 (Specification for Fruit Juice from Concentrate) to the Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars (England) Regulations 2013(2);

“governing body” includes the management committee of a pupil referral unit;

“lower fat milk” means milk the fat content of which has been reduced to not more than 1.8%;

“meat” means the skeletal muscles of mammalian and bird species recognised as fit for human consumption with naturally included or adherent tissue but does not include mechanically separated meat (which has the meaning given in point 1.14 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin)(3);

“meat product” has the same meaning as in the Meat Products Regulations;

“oily fish” includes anchovies, herring, kipper, mackerel, pilchards, salmon, sardines, trout, tuna (but not canned tuna) and whitebait;

“portion” means an amount of a particular food provided to an individual as part of a meal;

“sandwiches” includes filled rolls and similar products which are ready to eat without further preparation;

“school lunch” means food provided for consumption by pupils as their midday meal on a school day, whether involving a set meal or the selection of items by them or otherwise;

“snacks” means pre-packaged items other than confectionery, sandwiches, cakes or biscuits which are ready to eat without further preparation and which consist of or include as a basic ingredient potato, cereals, soya, nuts, seeds, fruit or vegetables;

“transfer of control agreement” has the same meaning as in paragraph 2(7) of Schedule 13 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998;

“vegetable juice” means juice extracted from vegetables with no other substance added, except that any water extracted during concentration may be restored;

“week” means the five days from Monday to Friday;

“wholegrain” means made with or containing whole unprocessed grains.

(2) Nothing in these Regulations applies to food provided—

(a) at parties or celebrations to mark religious or cultural occasions;

(b) at fund-raising events;

(c) as rewards for achievement, good behaviour or effort;

(d) for use in teaching food preparation and cookery skills, including where the food prepared is served to pupils as part of a school lunch; or

(e) on an occasional basis by parents or pupils.

(3) For the purpose of these Regulations food is divided into the groups and sub-groups shown in Schedule 1, and any reference to a group or sub-group is a reference to one of those groups or sub-groups.

(4) Where a school is open for fewer than five days in any week the requirements in Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 which refer to the number of times food must or must not be provided by reference to a week apply as if the school were open for the whole of that week.

(5) Regulations 3, 4 and 5 do not apply to food provided in nursery schools or nursery units within primary schools.

(1)

S.I. 2003/2075 as amended by S.I. 2005/2626, S.I. 2008/517, S.I. 2009/3238, S.I. 2011/1043 and S.I. 2012/1809.

(2)

S.I. 2013/2775.

(3)

OJ No L 139, 30.4.2004, p 55, last amended by Commission Regulation (EU) No 218/2014 (OJ No L 69, 8.3.2014, p 95).