Jamie Oliver attacks Michael Gove over 'worst yet' standards for school dinners
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.TV chef Jamie Oliver today accused the Education Secretary Michael Gove of presiding over the “worst yet” standards for school dinners.
Mr Oliver, who has been spearheading a campaign to improve school food for several years, has been at loggerheads with Mr Gove over his decision to exempt academies from tough new nutritional standards for school dinners.
“I have to say this Government, and I'm not getting political, as far as school food is concerned I think is the worst one yet,” he told BBC Radio Two's Breakfast Show.
“Mr Gove has taken away nutritional standards which is something I'm still battling on about. I think it's an abuse of policy you can take away standards from a child's food when mums and dads are busy round the country.
“You've got standards for water in the tap, standards for drivers carrying the kids on the bus, standards for the nurses, standards for the teachers - but the food doesn't matter. It's a shame.”
More than half the secondary schools in England are now academies as are hundreds of primary schools.
Mr Gove has ordered a review of school food to be carried out by Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent, co-founders of the Leon restaurant chain, and which will report next year. The goal is to establish an action plan for improved food in all schools.
Mr Oliver first became involved in campaigning for improved nutritional standards through his Channel Four TV programme, Jamie's School Dinners, in 2005.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments