Nursery World - Free fruit for all at state nurseries

Children in maintained nurseries are to be offered fruit as well as milk under changes to the Welfare Food Scheme intended to promote healthy eating and combat obesity in England. The reforms, announced by health secretary John Reid, will also involve thousands of parents receiving vouchers for free fruit and vegetables.

The reforms, announced by health secretary John Reid, will also involve thousands of parents receiving vouchers for free fruit and vegetables.

Under the current Welfare Food Scheme, which was created in 1940 as a wartime measure to protect children's health under rationing, parents only receive tokens for liquid milk and infant formula milk. They are being replaced by vouchers which can be used to buy fresh produce as well as milk.

The tokens will be worth at least 2.80 per week to families with children aged over one year, while families with children aged up to one year will receive weekly vouchers worth at least 5.60. They will be able to exchange the vouchers with milkmen, greengrocers, retail pharmacies and supermarkets.

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