**Welsh Government Outlines Sweeping Reforms for Primary School Meals**
In a significant push towards promoting healthier eating habits among young learners, the Welsh Government has revealed proposed changes to the nutritional standards of primary school meals across Wales. These reforms, which are expected to roll out in 2026–27 after a public consultation, include stricter rules on a range of food and drink items provided to children, aiming to tackle rising levels of childhood obesity and improve overall wellbeing.
Among the most notable measures suggested is the complete removal of fruit juice and white bread from school menus. These reform proposals go even further, placing firm restrictions on other foods deemed high in sugars, saturated fats, or lacking in fibre—such as sugary cereals and processed meats, including gammon and ham. Sugary puddings and cheese-based meals are also earmarked for limitation, while healthier options like fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, red meat, and fish are being prioritised.
The Welsh Government asserts that these new guidelines are aligned with UK-wide dietary recommendations. According to their statement, children currently consume, on average, excessive amounts of sugar and do not meet the advised intake of fruit, vegetables, and wholegrain foods. The government’s intervention comes at a time when statistics show that approximately a quarter of four- and five-year-olds in Wales are classified as overweight or obese.
Under the proposals, primary schools would be obliged to serve at least two portions of vegetables—excluding potatoes—every day, with one allowed to be a salad. Additionally, pupils would be offered at least one portion of fruit per day, and a minimum of six different types of vegetables, alongside four varieties of fruit, would need to be included over the course of a week. By expanding the diversity of nutritious foods on offer, policymakers hope to help children meet the familiar ‘five a day’ target.
Parents and children will also notice changes in bread, pasta, and noodle products, which must be made up of at least 50% wholegrain content. In a bid to cut down on less healthy options, school kitchens will now be permitted to serve fried potato products—such as chips—no more than once per week. Meals with cheese as their primary protein, like pizza and macaroni cheese, may only appear twice a week, reflecting concerns over saturated fat consumption.
Portion sizes are also set for revision. The current one-size-fits-all approach will be abandoned, in favour of differentiated portioning: infants will receive about half an adult portion, while juniors will get three-quarters. This change recognises the varied nutritional needs of children as they grow, and is intended to avoid both waste and the risk of systematic over- or under-feeding.
Breakfast menus will tighten further, with only milk and plain, fortified plant-based drinks allowed—fruit juice and non-wholegrain bread will no longer feature. The restrictions on sweetened cereals currently in place will remain unchanged, continuing the ban on those containing added sugar, chocolate, or other flavourings. For drinks, primary-aged pupils may be served only reduced-fat dairy milk, or certain supplemented plant-based alternatives that provide added calcium but no additional sugars or sweeteners.
Welsh Education Secretary Lynne Neagle expressed strong support for the initiative, emphasising its potential not only to boost classroom performance and general wellbeing, but also to relieve pressure on the NHS in future years. “Good nutrition is vital for helping young people perform at their best,” she said. “By changing school food rules, we are giving Welsh children the best chance in life, supporting local producers, and nurturing a generation who value healthy eating.”
Public Health Wales has welcomed the proposals. Consultant in public health Rachel Bath highlighted the influential role schools play in shaping children’s dietary habits, suggesting that strengthening food standards is a crucial move towards embedding lifelong healthy behaviour. She also noted the importance of coupling nutritional improvements with broader food education and enjoyable dining experiences.
The consultation period for these proposed amendments to the Healthy Eating in Schools (Nutritional Standards and Requirements) (Wales) Regulations 2013 will run for 10 weeks from 20 May. Officials are keen to hear from parents, teachers, suppliers, and students to ensure the reforms create workable standards that reflect the needs and realities of the school community.
In the meantime, the government has signalled that changes to secondary school food standards are still under review, acknowledging the greater complexity of food choices available to older pupils. Authorities are currently collecting further data on eating behaviours before extending similar measures to secondary education.
As Wales moves forward with its universal free primary school meals programme, these nutritional reforms mark the next major step in ensuring every child has access to healthy, balanced meals at school—a move with the potential to shape the nation’s public health for generations to come.