An evaluation of the effects of universal free school meals on secondary school-aged pupils' dietary intakes in England: a natural experiment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In September 2023, Tower Hamlets implemented a major policy change to Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) extending provision to all secondary school pupils aged 11-16y. There is limited evidence exploring the effects of UFSM in secondary school-aged children, and this, therefore, offered an opportune natural experiment to explore the effects of this policy change. The aims of the project were to explore the effects of UFSM on secondary-school aged pupils' dietary intake and food security.

Methods

Natural experiment using a mixed longitudinal cross-sectional design in intervention (n = 3) and control schools (n = 2). Schools purposefully selected Year 8 classes and all pupils were invited to participate using opt-out consent. Pupils completed four non-consecutive w

SUBMITTER: Spence S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12831372 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature