Written question asked by Ashok Kumar (Labour) on Monday, 8 January 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 January 2007. It was answered by Parmjit Dhanda (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 January 2007 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

School Food

Question: (4) what estimate he has made of the effect on the weight of children of school age of replacing one caloric beverage a day with a sugar-free equivalent.

Answer: The new Education (Nutritional Standards for School Lunches) (England) Regulations 2006, introduced in September 2006, limit the range of drinks available in schools to plain water (still or sparkling); skimmed or semi-skimmed milk; soya drinks enriched with calcium; pure fruit or vegetable juices; yogurt or milk with artificial sweeteners or less than 5 per cent. added sugar; or combinations of these drinks. Low calorie hot chocolate, tea and coffee are also allowed. There is a requirement for drinking water to be provided free of charge to registered pupils on school premises. Subsequent regulations to be introduced in September 2007 will extend these requirements to ensure that drinks throughout the school day are consistent with those served at lunch; and that drinking water is provided free of charge at all times of the school day.Artificial sweeteners are allowed in yoghurt or milk drinks, and in the yoghurt or milk portion of combined drinks. We have no plans to ban additives, which include sweeteners, in food under the new legislation. However, if schools want to take action on additives in food, they are free to do so.We are not aware of any incidents of schools excluding fruit juices from the provision of available drinks on the grounds of high caloric intake.We have not made, and have no plans to make, any estimate of the effect on the weight of children of school age of replacing one caloric beverage a day with a sugar-free alternative.

Secondary information