Dr Sara Long, DECIPHer’s Academic Lead for Partnership with Public Health Wales and RISE lead investigator, was speaking on The One Show as part of a film focussing on Universal Free School Meal (UFSM) provision in Wales.
The £1.6 million study spanning three‑years will analyse existing UFSM provision across the UK and investigate the impacts of UFSM on food consumption and choice in primary schools.
On the show, Dr Sara visited a primary school in Merthyr Tydfil to see some of the meal choices first-hand. She spoke of the importance of the project in seeking “to understand why children take up the [UFSM] offer or not and why they choose the options that they do on the menu.”
“Our hope is that children see and choose options that are going to contribute to their long-term health”.
Upon her visit, she called attention to the availability of fresh fruit and vegetables in this primary school, and that “the offered meal was very well-balanced”.
The study, which runs until March 2028, aims to assist Wales and other nations in improving school food policy and practice going forward, as well as developing a better understanding of the roll-out of UFSM policy. This, in turn, will help schools, local authorities and government to make informed decisions about how to improve the health of future generations.
Missed the episode? Catch up here (available until 18 February).