Scrap guidance for meat three times a week in English schools, says charity

Government guidance says schools should provide a portion of meat or poultry at least three days per week. Photograph: Adrian Sherratt/Alamy

Guidance urging schools in England to serve children meat at least three times a week should be overhauled in order to increase the eating of vegetables and legumes, a leading charity has said.

A report published by the Food Foundation has found that children eat proportionally more processed meat than adults, with more than a third (36%) of meat eaten by children coming from processed meat such as bacon, ham, and sausages, compared with 29% of adults.