The UK government is overhauling its school meal nutrition standards for the first time in 13 years to combat childhood obesity. As the reform plan drew attention, foreign media highlighted Korean school meals as a comparative reference.
According to Britain's Daily Mail, the UK government will ban all fried foods in school meals starting September 2027. French fries, chicken nuggets and fried fish are all included. Although a twice-a-week limit had existed, the ban reflects criticism that the rule was not properly enforced in practice. High-fat and high-salt processed foods such as pizza, pastries and sausage rolls will also face restrictions. Desserts including cakes and puddings will be reduced to once a week, with at least half of dessert offerings consisting of fruit. Fruit juice was also removed from the list of permitted beverages due to its sugar content.
The reform comes against a backdrop of worsening child health indicators. According to data from Britain's National Health Service (NHS), 24% of preschool and elementary school children were overweight or obese as of 2024. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson called the measure "a once-in-a-generation reform of school meals." Five education and food-related organizations have formed a "School Meals Project" and raised a fund of approximately 2.3 million pounds (about 4 billion won).
The Daily Mail introduced Korean school meals alongside its coverage of the UK reform. The outlet described Korean school lunches as "meals structured like a course menu," explaining that they consist of rice and soup as staples, accompanied by various side dishes including fermented vegetables. The side dishes were referred to by the original Korean term "banchan." It added that some schools offer up to six items per meal, with fruit and milk served as dessert afterward.
The school meal culture also drew attention. Videos spread across social media showing students lining up to receive multigrain rice and side dishes on metal trays, and bowing in greeting to cafeteria staff after finishing their meals. A Japanese influencer who introduces world food cultures visited a boys' high school in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, and filmed the school meal scene. The footage also captured cafeteria workers tasting the food and preparing plate presentations. The menu included anchovy rice balls, janchi guksu (banquet noodles), yukjeon (pan-fried beef), dumplings, stir-fried fish cakes, kimchi, and fruit cupcakes. A video posted on TikTok by a British teacher working at a Korean school, showing a meal of chicken mayo rice bowl, seaweed soup, salad and fruit, also went viral.
The institutional foundation also drew interest. School meals are currently provided at all elementary, middle, high and special schools in Korea, with an average of 5.38 million people eating at schools daily. Free school meals were expanded to include high schools in the 2020s, and the enforcement rules of the School Meals Act set nutritional ratios of 55-65% carbohydrates, 7-20% protein and 15-30% fats as menu standards, linked to regular audits by education offices.
