Sodexo continues with nutrient-based standards in schools

New Government legislation requires all school meals providers to ensure that, from this September, 14 key nutrient-based standards are met in secondary schools across England and Wales, following the introduction of the new standards in primary schools in September 2008. Despite the Government's deadline of September this year, Sodexo was already fully compliant with the new guidelines - two years ahead of deadline. Sodexo's offers include 'Club Joules' for primary school children and 'for you' for secondary school children. These are freshly prepared meals that are cooked on site by Sodexo's catering staff. The menus offer children a range of food options such as lamb bolognaise served with seasonal vegetables, to salmon fishcake and shepherds pie. Sodexo also introduced the 'Just Joules' offer solely for the 40 primary schools it caters for in Richmond in September 2007. This specially adapted menu was created to overcome the problems of minimal kitchen space in these schools. Jane Bristow, managing director for Sodexo Education, said: "Unlike many other schools across the country who have not prior to this September launched compliant menus, Sodexo has been compliant for nearly two years now. A large number of schools will inevitably face issues with having to adapt their menus to comply with the new guidelines. "However, Sodexo has already been through this process of change and will not have to endure the effects of a drop in school meal uptake. As soon as the decision was announced by the Government that these changes were to be introduced, we worked hard to adapt and redevelop our menus so that they would not only be fully compliant but also attractive for the pupils who eat them." Sodexo has actually experienced an increase of ten per cent in school meal uptake since it first introduced its new compliant menus.