Devon pre-school's 'safer eating' lunchbox rules, including white bread ban, draw backlash

Mixed · 2Busy Otters pre-school in Ottery St Mary, Devon, has faced criticism over a 'Safer Eating Policy' that sets strict rules for children's packed lunches. 1 2 Mixed · 2The policy bans crisps, chocolate, chocolate brioche, biscuits, cake bars, sausages and cheese strings, and says raisins are only allowed if cut in half. 2 1 Mixed · 2White bread is not allowed unless toasted, because the nursery says it can form a dough-like ball in the throat and pose a choking risk; brown bread or toasted white bread are given as alternatives, and breads including chapatis and naan should be cut into narrow strips. 1 2

Mixed · 2Fruit and vegetables must be prepared in set ways: apples, pears and melons in thin slices; grapes, cherries, berries, strawberries and cherry tomatoes cut lengthways into quarters; oranges peeled, segmented and checked for pips; carrots, cucumber, peppers and celery in narrow batons; and cheese in thin strips or grated. 1 2 Mixed · 2The pre-school told parents that slips would come home in lunchboxes to flag items not permitted under the policy or food not prepared safely, saying the slips are meant to promote healthy eating and reduce choking risk and are not intended to cause concern or embarrassment. 2 1 Left · 1The Mirror quoted one parent who said a setting that does not provide food has no right to dictate what a child eats, adding that they pay for the lunch and will send what their children will eat. 1

Right · 1The Express quoted comedian Simon Harris, who said the rules would 'drive me a bit potty' and questioned whether Ofsted was pressuring early years settings to ban white bread. 2 Mixed · 2Committee chair Thomas Prideaux said the charity-run setting based its guidance on the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, safer eating guidance and advice from its local authority, and that the decisions were not made to inconvenience families. 1 2 Mixed · 2Prideaux said no child would be left hungry and that children with specific dietary needs or who are selective eaters would be supported case by case; he also said the backlash had affected staff wellbeing and that nobody should face hostility or threatening messages. 2 1

Left · 1The Mirror also reported that the school says the rules are in line with government healthy eating guidance, EYFS requirements and a recent Ofsted inspection. 1