Schools across England are set for a major food shake-up from September 2027, with deep-fried meals being removed and tougher limits planned for processed meat, sugary desserts, high-fat foods and sweetened drinks. At the same time, pupils can expect more fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and pulses on their plates.
🚨 NEW: The Government says the following foods will be banned or limited in schools from September 2027 to tackle obesity
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) September 14, 2026
Banned:
🍳 Fried eggs
🍟 Deep-fried food such as fish and chips (must be oven-baked only)
🥐 Breakfast pastries
🥣 Coco Pops and other high-sugar…
The overhaul of England’s School Food Standards is aimed at improving children’s diets and tackling obesity. It could change everything from breakfast clubs to lunchtime favourites, although parents should be careful with social-media claims that individual branded products have already been placed on a final government banned list.
Deep-fried meals are heading off school menus
Deep frying represents one of the biggest changes. Existing standards allow schools to serve up to two portions a week of food that has been deep-fried, batter-coated or breadcrumb-coated.
The government’s tougher approach would remove deep-fried food altogether. That could mean a traditional fried fish-and-chips lunch being replaced by an oven-baked version rather than fish or potatoes disappearing completely.
Starchy foods cooked in oil or fat are also expected to face limits, while foods high in fat and salt, including options such as pizza and sausage rolls, would become occasional choices rather than everyday menu items.
Sausages, nuggets and ham face tighter limits
Processed meat is another target. Detailed plans would restrict foods such as sausages, chicken nuggets and ham, with processed meat expected to be limited to once a week and served alongside fruit or vegetables.
The rules are designed to reduce children’s reliance on highly processed options rather than remove meat from school meals entirely.
Sugary cereals, pastries and chocolate spreads targeted
Breakfast menus will also change. High-sugar cereals, breakfast pastries and chocolate spreads are among the types of food expected to be removed or heavily restricted as schools move towards lower-sugar breakfasts with more fruit and fibre.
Names including Coco Pops and Nutella have appeared in reports about the changes. However, individual branded products should not be described as definitively banned by name until the final standards establish exactly how the nutritional rules apply.
Desserts stay, but schools face tougher rules
Sweet desserts are not disappearing entirely. Detailed proposals would limit them to once a week in primary schools and twice a week in secondary schools, with fruit accompanying qualifying desserts.
Drinks high in sugar or sweeteners are also expected to become very occasional choices. Condiments such as tomato ketchup that contain significant salt or sugar could be restricted to portions of around 10g.
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Wholemeal bread, pasta and pulses get a bigger role
The overhaul is as much about adding healthier food as removing less nutritious choices. Bread requirements are expected to promote higher fibre and wholemeal content, while at least one weekly pasta dish is proposed to contain a substantial proportion of wholewheat pasta.
Lentils, chickpeas, beans and other pulses will become more prominent sources of fibre and plant protein. Primary schools are expected to move towards weekly provision, while secondary schools could initially introduce pulses at least once every two weeks from September 2027 before moving to weekly provision in September 2028.
Fruit and vegetables will also become a more consistent part of meals instead of being treated as an optional extra.
September 2027 brings the biggest change
Primary schools are expected to move to the revised standards from September 2027. Secondary schools will begin implementing the changes at the same time, although some requirements are expected to be phased in through September 2028 to give caterers more time to redesign menus.
Families can follow the Department for Education’s official school food updates for the government’s standards and implementation details.
The changes come amid wider reforms affecting pupils and parents. Families can also follow changes affecting smartphone use in England’s schools and recent UK student loan guidance changes for other developments affecting young people and education.
Childhood health is driving the overhaul
The government says one in three children leave primary school overweight or obese. It has also highlighted tooth decay linked to high-sugar diets as a major reason children aged five to nine require hospital treatment.
Schools are expected to face greater accountability too, including publishing food policies and menus online and identifying a governor responsible for school food.
For parents, the practical change should be straightforward: fewer deep-fried and heavily processed choices, tighter controls on sugar, salt and fat, and more vegetables, fruit, wholegrains and pulses. The precise treatment of individual foods will depend on the final standards, making the official rules more reliable than simplified “banned food” lists circulating online.
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