Universal primary free school meals is being rolled out in Scotland and Wales along with universal free school meals for all children in London, with some boroughs extending this to secondary schools.
LACA, the school food people, has been a longstanding supporter of its full introduction in England too.
Now Kamala Harris has backed the idea in paying tribute to the work of her vice-presidential running colleague Tim Walz, who has introduced universal free school breakfasts and lunch in the state of Minnesota, where he is Governor.
Speaking on US TV, in an excerpt that was broadcast in the UK on Sky TV, she said: “As Governor, Tim has continued to fight for working families. He secured paid leave for workers in Minnesota and he refused, as Governor, to allow any student in their public schools to go hungry, so he made school breakfast and lunch free for every child.”
She was referring to a bill signed into law by Tim Walz making Minnesota one of only eight states in the country with a universal free lunch programme. It entitles all Minnesota students to hot meals at school regardless of parental income.
According to Minnesota Public Media, the state’s free meals programme is expected to cost more than US$400m over two years.