Pre-school bans white bread and crisps from lunch boxes

Summarised from Manchester Evening News's report · Updated 16 Oct, 11:14 · Archive

A pre-school has banned white bread and other foods as choking hazards under new lunch box rules.

Busy Otters Pre-school has issued a 'Safer Eating Policy' banning white bread, crisps, chocolate, biscuits, cake bars, sausages and cheese strings from children's lunch boxes. The school says white bread can form a dough-like ball in the throat and poses a choking risk if not chewed properly. Toasted white bread and brown bread are permitted alternatives.

The policy also sets out detailed requirements for how food must be prepared. Grapes, cherries and berries must be cut lengthways into quarters. Apples, pears and melons should be cut into thin slices. Carrots, cucumber, peppers and celery must be cut into narrow batons or sticks. Cheese should be cut into thin strips or grated rather than provided as strings. Raisins must be cut in half.

The pre-school says the rules are in line with government healthy eating guidance, Early Years Foundation Stage requirements and recent Ofsted feedback.

Read the report

• POLL: Should schools ban white bread? Outcry after pupils issued new 'health and safety' lunch box rulesThe school has also banned crisps, chocolate, chocolate brioche, biscuits, cake bars, sausages and cheese stringsManchester Evening News · 16 Oct, 09:49

In this story: Busy Otters Pre-school · Devon

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