Subway targets schools

SUBWAY IS REPORTEDLY in talks with a head teacher to open a branch at a school in Manchester.

 

According to the Manchester Evening News the food chain is in talks with Parrs Wood High School in Didsbury over the possibility of opening a concession at its sixth form college.

 

Headteacher Andy Shakos told the paper that discussions were at an early stage. “We are looking at how we can change the provision for our students in the sixth form. Subway is one of the possibilities we are looking at,” he said.

 

Subway has been criticised in the past for the high salt content of its products, but it has since announced a salt reduction programme. The company has also signed up to four of the Government’s Responsibility Deal pledges, including those for salt reduction, artificial trans fat removal, calorie reduction and out of home calorie labelling.

 

The news comes a little over a week after Education Secretary Michael Gove announced a review of school food. The review will be led by Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent, the co-founders of the LEON restaurant chain.

 

Over the last decade there has been a big change of attitude towards school food and significant improvement in many schools. Jamie Oliver is often seen as the figurehead for change, but has recently led a number of attacks on the Education Department. Oliver did not welcome the new review and suggested that action rather than “costly reports” was needed.

 

School Food Trust research show there is plenty of hard work ahead:

 

  • take up of school lunches is just 38% in secondary schools and 44% in primary schools
  • only 22.5% of schools provide at least one portion of fruit and veg per pupil every day
  • half of secondary schools offer pizzas and starchy food cooked in oil on most days
  • a third of young people are not choosing a healthy balanced meal at school.