Tesco is investing £4m to enhance fruit and vegetable access for students.
- The initiative will benefit 140,000 pupils across 400 schools.
- Focuses on areas with higher free school meal ratios.
- Expected to improve children’s nutritional intake significantly.
- Launches in collaboration with the British Nutrition Foundation.
Tesco has announced a substantial investment of £4 million aimed at improving the dietary habits of young people through its new ‘Fruit & Veg for Schools’ programme. This initiative will deliver fresh fruit and vegetables to 140,000 pupils across 400 schools. By targeting institutions where there is a higher-than-average proportion of free school meals, the programme seeks to address nutritional disparities.
The scheme, in collaboration with the British Nutrition Foundation, anticipates supplying approximately 16 million pieces of fruit and vegetables over the school year, equating to 110 portions per child on average. This measure comes following findings from the food waste charity FareShare, which revealed that 28% of teachers reported bringing food for pupils in stark contrast to 26% in the previous summer term.
Research highlights the pressing need for such initiatives as only 12% of children aged 11 to 18 meet the recommended five-a-day intake of fruits and vegetables. Tesco anticipates that participation in this scheme could increase consumption by 23%, potentially boosting vital nutrient intake. Estimates suggest a 7% increase in vitamin A, 25% in vitamin C, 14% in folate, and 10% in fibre among participating children.
Ken Murphy, the Chief Executive of Tesco, stated the importance of ensuring that every child has access to daily servings of fruit and vegetables. “Our aim is to enable schools to provide enough fruit and veg for every child to have at least one piece every day,” he noted. Murphy emphasised the broader impact, stating it would encourage young people ‘to get them eating healthy food’ and explore new dietary options.
Concluding remarks from Tesco highlight the programme’s role in supporting disadvantaged communities by fostering healthier eating habits and educational opportunities related to food preparation and cooking.
Tesco’s £4m investment represents a decisive step towards enhancing the nutritional wellbeing of students across the UK.
