Tag: Free school meals

In 2023, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan launched an emergency scheme that has now become a permanent fixture, ensuring all state primary school pupils in London get free school meals. This was a direct response to the cost-of-living crisis, with a core purpose of supporting financially strained families and benefiting child welfare.

According to January 2024 data, 2.1 million children in England were eligible for means-tested free school meals, with millions more receiving universal infant provision. This article breaks down exactly how many people in the UK are on free school meals, outlining the varying eligibility rules across the four nations and detailing recent policy changes affecting families.

As of 2024, an estimated 466 million children worldwide benefit from a school meal program, highlighting a significant global commitment to student welfare. While this statistic is impressive, it's essential to look closer at how many countries have free school meals, distinguishing between universal and targeted approaches.

Millions of children across the UK are supported by free school meals, but the exact number and eligibility criteria vary significantly by nation. Recent government data and policy changes in 2024 and 2025 highlight a complex and evolving landscape of provision, driven by factors such as the cost of living crisis.

Following the major reforms kick-started by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver in the mid-2000s, food served in all maintained schools and academies in England must now meet strict School Food Standards. This means that what are school lunches like in England today is a far cry from the historically poor reputation of 'school dinners'.

In March 2025, the USDA canceled approximately $1 billion in funding for programs that sourced local food for schools and food banks, leaving many to wonder: are school lunches being cut?. The answer is complex, involving the expiration of temporary pandemic-era programs, new funding cuts, and contentious policy proposals that vary significantly by location.

In the 2022–23 school year, California became the first state to implement a statewide Universal Meals Program for all school children. This initiative is a key part of **what is the California meals program**, a broader system of state-supported nutritional aid that also includes the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program for vulnerable adults.