Schools in England face checks to root out unhealthy lunches

All England’s 21,500 state-funded schools have a legal duty to abide by food standards. Photograph: Andrew Fox/The Guardian

Schools could be reprimanded if they serve food containing too much fat, salt or sugar under new checks to ensure pupils receive healthy lunches.

The Department for Education is finalising plans for a promised “robust national enforcement system” to ensure all 21,500 state-funded schools in England comply with existing nutrition standards.