Primary pupils snub healthier school meals as prices rise

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Fewer primary pupils in the capital are eating school dinners this year, despite a multi-million-pound drive to improve food quality.

Take-up in secondary schools appeared to have stabilised with a slight increase in teenagers eating canteen meals, according to the School Food Trust.

Meanwhile, the average cost of a school lunch across the country rose to £1.78 in secondary schools and £1.66 in primary schools.

Ministers acknowledged they had "a huge job" to change children's eating habits. The Government launched a drive to ban junk food from dinner halls and vending machines in the wake of chef Jamie Oliver's TV campaign to improve school meals.

The School Food Trust's figures showed 40.2 per cent of children in outer London primaries were eating canteen dinners this year, down from

42.9 per cent in 2006-07. In inner London, 56.3 per cent ate school dinners, down from 56.9 per cent.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls said: "Unhealthy eating is ingrained in society so this has to be a long-term project."