Evaluating the impact of the universal infant free school meal policy on the ultra-processed food content of children's lunches in England and Scotland: a natural experiment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Universal Infant Free School Meal (UIFSM) policy was introduced in 2014/15 in England and Scotland for schoolchildren aged 4-7 years, leading to an increase in school meal uptake. UK school meals are known to be healthier and less industrially processed than food brought from home (packed lunches). However, the impact of the UIFSM policy on the quantity of ultra-processed food (UPF) consumed at school during lunchtime is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the UIFSM policy on lunchtime intakes of UPF in English and Scottish schoolchildren.

Methods

Data from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008-2019) were used to conduct a difference-in-difference (DID) natural experiment. Outcomes included school meal uptake and the average intake of

SUBMITTER: Parnham JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11528988 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature