At a glance
• Tesco’s Fruit & Veg for Schools programme provided 10.8 million portions of free produce to more than 140,000 children across 500 UK schools, boosting vitamin and fibre intake and leading to a 7.4% rise in Vitamin C levels
• 94% of teachers reported better pupil behaviour, focus, and energy, particularly in schools with high numbers of free school meal pupils; the initiative also fostered confidence and social skills among vulnerable students
• Nearly all teachers agreed the scheme encouraged children to eat a wider range of fruit and vegetables, with popular items including oranges, grapes, carrots, and avocados, and called for its expansion to reach more communities
Kids behave better when they're given free fruit and veg, a ground-breaking study on healthy eating has revealed.
