Fewer than two in every 100 packed lunches eaten by children in English primary schools meet nutritional standards, according to a recent study.
Although the amount of sugary food in lunchboxes has been found to have declined over the past ten years, it is still higher than recommended, and there has been a drop in essential vitamins and minerals, researchers at the University of Leeds have found.
Since 2006, eight standards have been introduced for cooked school lunches. Confectionery, savoury snacks and sweetened drinks are restricted while vegetables, protein and dairy have to be included in each meal. However, with packed lunches not subject to any control, just 1.6 per cent meet these standards.
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