ABSTRACT
This research offers some important insights regarding high levels of food waste in schools where universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) were introduced in England during 2015. It draws on semi-structured interviews and observations during visits to 30 schools in South East England. The research found that in most cases the discarded food was of excellent quality. Findings revealed high levels of food waste could be attributed to a number of factors: failure to consult with pupils and parents on menu changes, poor presentation of food at the time of serving, crowded and noisy dining rooms and inadequate adult supervision. Recommendations were formulated as to ways in which schools could minimise food waste levels and while recent research on this topic is scant, this chapter extends understanding about this issue.
