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Location
United Kingdom
Age range
Nursery (excluding the ones under the Nursery Milk Schemes) and primary schools all over the UK, and Secondary schools in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Timing
Program overview
New school milk programme in UK promotes consumption of milk, promote healthy habits, educate students about nutrition, health and farming and its role in food production, and tackle child obesity
Meals in which dairy products are served
It can be included as part of a lunch meal or as a morning or afternoon snack, but neve included in the meal as an ingredient. It can be provided for free or partially funded.
Activities associated (ex: nutrition education)
Education on nutrition, farming and processing and health. Many schools are asked to create material, such as posters on the impact of dairy for health
Type of products
From cow, goat or sheep: whole or semi-skimmed pasteurized (flavoured with a maximum 7% of added sugar) fluid milk, whole or semi-skimmed plain yoghurt, lactose-free or reduced fluid milk, and UHT fluid milk. Standard portion size: 180mL, with a maximum volume of 250mL/day/student
Stakeholder engaged
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland and England; Rural Payments Agency in Scotland, England and Wales; Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education in England; Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Funding
If the products are partially funded, the maximum price is 7 cents above the cost of product to the school.
£6.8m UK for administrative service
Dietary guidelines
- Every lunch must contain at least 1 portion of dairy products
- Drinking (flavoured or not) milk must always be presented as an option
- Semi-skimmed milk is preferable to whole milk, except with children under 5 years
- Yoghurt or milk drinks (including fruit milkshakes, which must contain at least 50% milk or yoghurt) can be presented as a drink option (if containing less than 5% of added sugar)
- Cheese can be presented as a source of protein in vegetarian options no more than twice per week
Ice cream is not included in the category of acceptable products
Rules for procurement of dairy products
Origin: EU
