Schools in England will see the end of battered fish and chips, fried chicken nuggets and jam doughnuts from September 2027 as the government introduces a ban on deep fried foods in a bid to curb the UK’s childhood obesity crisis.
But whilst menus will be overhauled – with the rules also demanding that all desserts must contain at least 50 per cent fruit – it’s unlikely the food standards will meet the impressive criteria of South Korean school dinners.
Children in the East Asian nation are already enjoying healthy gourmet meals, with everything from noodles, salads and hearty broths on the menu each day.
Social media videos show young students loading their metal trays up with freshly cooked curries, multi-grain rice and a myriad of side dishes – known locally as ‘banchan’ – such as fermented cabbage to amplify the culinary experience.
Some platters appear to reach a staggering six courses, with customised dessert buns decorated into adorable-looking pastries, fruit and a flavoured milk to wash everything down.
And far from rowdy tussles about cutting in line and slamming trays, many South Korean students are shown politely waiting their turn and bowing to the dinner ladies as a sign of respect.
Japanese influencer jukananan727, who shares videos of ‘food culture around the world’ took to Instagram to post about her visit to an all-boys’ high school in Yongin-si, a city south of Seoul.
Social media videos show young students in the East Asian nation loading their metal trays up with freshly cooked curries
And it doesn’t just end at schools. University canteens are just as impressive, with many students sharing their meals and ranking them ‘a 100 out of 10’
She showed how dedicated cooks carefully presented and plated the meals, tasting as they go along to make sure the food is of good quality.
The menu – which is checked by a nutritionist – for that day featured Anchovy Rice Balls, ‘Janchi’ Noodles with broth, Beef Meat Pancakes, Gyoza Dumplings, Stir-fried Square Fish Cakes, Cabbage Kimchi and Fruit Mini Cupcakes.
On TikTok, South Korean student @nakimm_ has also shared clips of her high school lunches, showing yet another hearty serving with rice, soup with chicken, kimchi, steamed buns, a chocolate milk – and an orange.
Elsewhere, @heners332, a Brit living in Korea and working as an English teacher at an elementary school also gave an insight into a day of eating, which included a chicken mayo and rice dish, seaweed and miso soup.
For a sweet treat, he grabbed a mini croissant and a kiwi.
And it doesn’t just end at schools. University canteens are just as impressive, with many students sharing their meals and ranking them ‘a 100 out of 10’, including Botswana-born Bontle Nawa, who is based in Seoul, with her spread also featuring a fresh salad and fried cutlet.
Japanese influencer jukananan727, who shares videos of ‘food culture around the world’ took to Instagram to post about her visit to an all-boys’ high school in Yongin-si, a city south of Seoul
South Korea provides universal free school meals to students, s system that has grown and been nurtured since the Korean War in 1953
Meanwhile, Mimi, who is French, shared yet another impressive meal, and revealed that the total – for rice, a curry, three side dishes, a soup and a drink – was 5,500 Korean won, or roughly £2.75.
Sonu, who goes to Seoul National University, shared his meal – which cost ‘less than a dollar’ – consisting of ‘radish soup with beef’, rice and two types of salad.
South Korea provides universal free school meals to students, s system that has grown and been nurtured since the Korean War in 1953.
According to the School Meals Coalition – Led by Brazil, Finland and France – the East Asian nation’s scheme began with donated milk powder at elementary schools to tackle the food crisis during the conflict, but has continued to remain a priority for the government since.
‘Nutrition is a top priority, as demonstrated by placing nutrition experts in all schools with a task to instil in students healthy eating habits and demonstrating this through meals they receive at school,’ the coalition explained.
The state also connects local farmers and suppliers with schools, and their focus on food processing and storage facilities.
As of 2024, the Republic of Korea provides free school meals for ‘five million students in almost 12,000 primary and secondary schools across the country, supporting 99.8 per cent of the children in public and private schools’.
It comes as battered fish and chips, fried chicken nuggets and jam doughnuts are set to be banned in school dinners in a major government overhaul.
New food standards for schools in England will introduce a ban on deep fried foods from September 2027 as ministers seek to curb the UK’s childhood obesity crisis.
The rules, which are set to be announced on Monday, will also demand that all desserts must contain at least 50 per cent fruit, spelling an end to traditional favourites such as chocolate sponge cake and jam roly-poly.
Current standards prevent schools from serving more than two portions of deep-fried food each week. They are also instructed to serve at least one portion of vegetables or salad every day and at least one portion of fruit.
The changes mark the biggest overhaul of canteen menus since the introduction of the School Food Plan, published in 2013 by Leon co-founders Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent.
Ministers are seeking to introduce the new standards before the expansion of free school meals to all pupils in England whose families claim Universal Credit.
The Government has claimed the extension, beginning at start of the 2026 school year, will see half-a-million more children benefit from a free meal every school day.
It also claimed that nearly £500 will be put back into parents’ pockets every year, while the expansion will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty.
