Food industry’s influence in UK schools sparks concerns
Experts raise concerns over food brands in schools, calling for scrutiny of industry-sponsored education programs amid rising child obesity rates.
The growing involvement of food and drink companies in UK schools and nurseries is under scrutiny following an investigation by The British Medical Journal.
Brands like Kellogg’s, Greggs, and Nestlé have become key players in providing breakfast clubs, nutrition education, and healthy eating campaigns. While these efforts are often framed as corporate social responsibility, experts are questioning the ethics of such partnerships as childhood obesity rates continue to climb.
Since 1998, Kellogg’s has funded school breakfast clubs, providing cash grants, bowls, and cereals like Corn Flakes through a partnership with Magic Breakfast. To date, they’ve donated £5.7 million to UK schools. Similarly, Greggs supports 898 breakfast clubs, feeding over 62,000 children daily, with plans to expand further.
While both companies maintain that their programs comply with government standards, critics argue that exposure to branding—no matter how subtle—can influence children’s eating habits.
An organization sponsored by McDonald’s, Mars, and Nestlé shouldn’t be within 100 miles of children’s food education
Concerns extend to broader campaigns. Nestlé, for example, funds the PhunkyFoods program, which promotes healthy eating in over 54,000 pupils annually. The British Nutrition Foundation, which provides curriculum-aligned materials to schools, is also funded by corporations like PepsiCo and Mars.
Experts argue that such partnerships risk normalizing unhealthy products and shifting the focus of health education from systemic issues to personal responsibility. May van Schalkwyk, public health expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, describes these initiatives as “subtle but very problematic.”
If you’ve got a food company sponsoring your breakfast club, you have to consider what they’re providing and what they’re getting out of it. Is it better than having no breakfast club at all?
Proponents of industry involvement argue that food companies can fill gaps left by insufficient public funding. Jennie Cockroft, director of PhunkyFoods, supports partnerships like Nestlé’s, saying they provide crucial financial support without influencing content.
However, critics highlight the risk of “reputation laundering,” where brands use these programs to build trust and loyalty while continuing to sell high-sugar or highly processed products. For example, a 2023 Action on Sugar report revealed excessive sugar levels in several Kellogg’s cereals marketed to children.
These companies provide children with sensible nutrition advice but create environments where it’s impossible to follow that advice.
The government plans to introduce free breakfast clubs in all primary schools and tighten restrictions on junk food advertising. However, experts like Greg Fell, president of the Association of Directors of Public Health, argue that these measures don’t go far enough.
We need to protect children from targeted marketing and create healthier environments where high-fat, high-sugar foods aren’t the norm,
An open letter signed by 38 experts calls for the government to ban branded sponsorships and marketing in schools entirely. It also recommends including schools in future regulations on food advertising.
The influence of food companies extends beyond schools, with campaigns targeting nurseries and younger children. For example, Ella’s Kitchen’s sensory food play bus has drawn criticism for promoting its branded baby foods, which some say conflict with public health recommendations.
Headteacher Jason O’Rourke offers an alternative: his school, Washingborough Academy in Lincolnshire, integrates food education through gardening, cooking, and exploring fresh produce, entirely free of corporate sponsorship. “We need to step back and ask: how can we do the best for our children in this context?”
For parents, teachers, and policymakers, the question is clear: can schools accept corporate support without compromising children’s health?
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Authors
Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.
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