England’s Department for Education advanced plans to overhaul school meals by banning deep-fried food and restricting high-sugar items, setting new limits on desserts and daily “grab and go” options. The rules, due to be finalized after a nine-week consultation, will apply to both primary and secondary schools. The Association of School and College Leaders supported higher quality food but said additional funding will be essential to implement the changes. Other parties—including Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, and the Green Party—split on funding adequacy versus government oversight. Enforcement will be “robust,” the DfE said, with a timeline targeting final standards this September and implementation beginning September 2027. The government cited health drivers including obesity and tooth decay rates among young children.