Jamie Oliver encourages caterers to back calls to extend free school meals

Jamie Oliver has said it would be “amazing” if school caterers could get behind a campaign to ensure all children on universal credit are given free school meals.

It comes after the chef told the BBC that free school meal eligibility should be extended “now especially more than ever”.

A household must earn less than £7,400 a year to be eligible for free school meals under current rules, which Oliver said excluded 800,000 vulnerable children, putting "profound" pressure on parents.

He added: “The reality is if you speak to the best minds in economics in the country, in the world, they will tell you that if you output healthier kids, you’re going to have a more productive country and to do that you have to think in 10 to 20 years, not three-year cycles.”

Speaking yesterday (11 October) at the launch of his pasta brand Pasta Dreams, which was produced in collaboration with delivery-led food company Taster, Oliver told The Caterer: “Common sense and kindness and looking after the customer in whatever shape or form is a beautiful thing. Some of those [school catering] services are run by councils, there’s a responsibility. Some of them are run by corporates, there is a responsibility.

“It’s not my job to tell them what to do, but it would be amazing if [school caterers] can [help]. We’re focusing on that gap between the free school lunch kids and the universal credit scheme.”

During his ‘Eton Mess’ protest in May, Oliver also called on caterers to back anti-obesity measures after the government backtracked on banning ‘buy one get one free offers on junk food.

Earlier this month, Tom Kerridge called for the extension of free school meals during an event organised in collaboration with education caterer Chartwells, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland.