The Soil Association and Organix are to be congratulated on their new report, 'Georgie Porgie Pudding and Pie - Exposing the Truth about Nursery Food', which reveals the shockingly low quality of food in some early years settings (see 'Food for thought', pages 14-15, and News, pages 4-5).
In some nurseries, pre-schools and children's centres, additives abound, sugar and processed foods are rarely off the menu, and fruit and vegetables make far too few appearances.
Of course, some early years settings are doing a wonderful job of providing highly nutritious, home-cooked meals for the young children in their care - Childsplay Claremont Nursery Co-operative in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, for example, who won last year's Nursery Food Awards, and many others that we know of around the country.
Quality will always be uneven, however, so long as there are no statutory standards for food in pre-school provision, and no compulsory cookery and nutrition training either. It is no good suggesting that nurseries serve 'healthy, balanced and nutritious food' without detailing what that means. Some nursery staff do not have the knowledge and experience required.
It seems incredible, given all that has been said about combating obesity, that there are still no regulations about food for the youngest and most vulnerable children, nor any plans to introduce them.
The Government argues strongly that it is desirable and beneficial to make the EYFS statutory, so why do none of its departments want to take responsibility for imposing standards that could make a huge difference to children's health and future lives?
