Flavoured milk off the menu in all city primary schools

Schools across Glasgow get ready to ditch flavoured milk in effort to cut down on sugar consumption.

Cordia (Services) LLP has taken the decision to remove flavoured milk from the menu in each of the city's 139 primary schools as children return from the summer break.

Around 31,000 cartons of milk are consumed each day across the city, 16,000 of which are flavoured.

Part of the organisation's 'We Love Scottish Milk' campaign, Cordia will actively promote plain milk in school Fuel Zones and reward children with a sticker every time they chose it from the menu. In addition teachers will cover the benefits of drinking plain milk in the classroom.

Sugar content

Each serving of flavoured milk contains 5.8g more sugar than the plain product.

Flavoured milk was introduced to menus as a method of encouraging pupils to increase calcium intake, which has been hugely successful, however Cordia is continuing with steps to evolve its offering with a focus on further enhancements to nutritional value.

Every product served in city schools are compliant with the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007.

Julia McCreadie, Cordia's (Services) LLP's Head of Encore and Facilities Management, said "We place a major emphasis on ensuring our menus are both healthy and nutritional, appetising to children with a wide range of dietary requirements and preferences.

"Through our 'We Love Scottish Milk' campaign, we'll encourage the uptake of milk as a lunchtime choice, entering the next phase of our approach to reducing sugar consumption in the Fuel Zone.

"We work closely with nutritionists and the Scottish Government to refine our menus with research showing we can strike the correct balance between sugar and calcium.

"Ultimately, we want to provide delicious, healthy options for children throughout Glasgow and we'll continue look as further ways to achieve this."

Bold move

Councillor Chris Cunningham, City Convener for Education, Skills & Early Years welcomes the move and said: "Glasgow has never been afraid to take bold moves to make our school meal service the very best it can be - nutritionally balanced and a tasty. Our schools actively encourage the children to adopt a healthy lifestyle to help them learn and achieve and we are happy to support this by taking action."

All the milk which Cordia serves in Glasgow schools is sourced directly from Scottish cows via its supplier, Muller Wiseman Dairies.

Cordia is encouraging the wide range of health benefits milk offers children including calcium for stronger teeth and bones as well protein for building muscle. It is also a source of Vitamin B2, B5, B12 and Iodine.

Find out more about Glasgow primary school meals FuelZone