Outrage as only national event 'dedicated to school food' pushes waffles, burgers, cakes and other junk

Experts have raised alarm after an investigation found more than a third of the suppliers to the UK's biggest school food show sell products high in fat, sugar or salt.The investigation found that, in total, 52 of the 137 companies at The School Food People Show and Forum in Birmingham last month supplied items including hot dogs, pizza, muffins and fizzy drinks.Greg Fell, president of the Association of Directors of Public Health and director of public health for Sheffield City Council, said the menu is perpetuating an 'obesogenic environment'.The annual exhibition is billed as the only national event 'dedicated solely to school food'. It attracts over 1,000 catering industry delegates and provides a 'platform' for suppliers to show off their products, build relationships with school caterers and network for new contracts. The investigation by the British Medical Journal found the main trade group for school food caterers, which organises the show, is sponsored by firms supplying pizzas, cakes, waffles and ice cream.At the exhibition, the BMJ claims there were seven wholesalers selling chocolate bars, crisps and sweets, five ice cream firms, four soft drinks companies and other suppliers that make items including pizzas, cake mixes and vending machines with sweets. As well as this, there were also two specialist hot dog firms, a Belgian waffle maker and others selling cakes, cookies and muffins. More than a third of the suppliers exhibiting at the UK's biggest school food show sell products high in fat, sugar or salt, according to a new investiagtionSome sold cans of soft drink – promoted as being 'school compliant' – with more than half a day's sugar allowance.The findings come as the Government plans to introduce new school food standards that will limit junk foods and replace them with healthier options and more fruit and vegetablesMarie Murphy, assistant professor of child and adolescent nutrition at the University of Birmingham, said the findings were 'shocking' and 'clearly go against school food standards'.D'Arcy Williams, chief executive of the youth activist food charity Bite Back, says the findings 'expose a pretty extraordinary contradiction'.'At the very moment we're preparing to raise the bar on school food, too much of the industry surrounding our schools is still promoting the same unhealthy products we're trying to move away from.'Experts say that one of the problems facing caterers is that items such as chocolate bars, muffins and fizzy drinks have some of the highest profit margins.This enables catering firms to make up for the losses on nutritious plated meals that are more expensive to produce and less popular.Under the government's proposed new standards, due to take effect in primary schools from September 2027 and in secondary schools from September 2028, deep-fried foods would be banned altogether. In addition, items such as pizza and sausage rolls are limited to twice a week, with ice cream and cookies permitted just once a week.The rules will also demand that all desserts contain at least 50 per cent fruit, spelling an end to traditional favourites such as chocolate sponge cake and jam roly-poly. Current standards prevent schools from serving more than two portions of deep-fried food each week. They must also serve at least one portion of vegetables or salad every day and at least one portion of fruit. The changes mark the biggest overhaul of canteen menus since the introduction of the School Food Plan, published in 2013 by Leon co-founders Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent.According to figures released in 2024 and published in the British Medical Journal, almost 60 per cent of a UK adult's daily diet is made up of ultra-processed food. Meanwhile, childhood obesity has been a growing issue for years, with easy access to fast food, more screen time and sedentary lifestyles blamed for spiralling rates in some parts of the UK. More than one in five children in England are living with overweight or obesity when they start primary school, rising to more than a third by the time they leave.Tooth decay also remains the leading cause of hospital admissions for young children aged between five and nine.The Government has not confirmed how it will monitor whether schools are complying with the new rules, and catering firms are concerned that pupils will reject the healthier meals and bring in packed lunches full of snacks.Mr Fell argues 'we're perpetuating an environment where childhood overweight and obesity is the norm' and warns that 'society will have to pay the consequences of that, 20, or 30, or 40 years down the line'.