Are free school meals failing families? Exploring the relationship between child food security, child mental health and free school meals

New study

Evidence highlights the importance of free school meals but shows that many families who are struggling with rising food bills still do not qualify for them. As a result, children are experiencing rising levels of food insecurity, leading to nutritional, physical and mental health problems.

The report calls for the eligibility criteria to be widened to reduce both child hunger in the UK as well as the stigma associated with free school meals.

Food insecurity

With prices of some everyday grocery items rising by up to 50 per cent along with the rising costs of energy, low-income families are having to make tough choices when it comes to the weekly shop, particularly when it comes to food. Many are cutting back on what they buy, others are going without some meals all together.

As a result, many more families face feelings of food insecurity, broadly defined as uncertainty around the quality and quantity of food available.

Child poverty 

Free school meals are a critical tool for mitigating the negative health effects of child poverty among low-income families. Children receiving free school meals obtain a higher proportion of their daily energy and nutrient intakes from their school meals compared with those who pay, and free school meals may well improve health and well-being and reduce health inequalities.

New research led by the University of York and published by the BMJ has examined levels of food insecurity and free school meals status, concluding that many children experience food insecurity regardless of whether they received free school meals, suggesting the eligibility criteria needs to be widened to prevent overlooking those in need.

The study, which involved more than 2,000 children aged 7-17 across the UK, observed food insecurity among both children who did and did not receive of free school meals. Indeed, 23 per cent of children not receiving free school meals in the study were food insecure.

Food insecurity has considerable nutritional, physical and cognitive implications for children including lower vegetable intake, higher added sugar intake, increased risk of obesity and poorer academic performance. Studies in America indicate that food insecurity is linked to an increase in the risk of mental illness in children and adolescents.

Mental health

Meanwhile, children and teenagers experiencing food insecurity report lower life satisfaction and have a higher probability of seeing a psychologist. Many often find it difficult to make friends. Evidence also suggests that rates of depression, stress and anxiety are higher for children living in food insecure households.

In England, free school meals are available to all children in infant school (Reception and Years 1 and 2), as well as those in Year 3 and above in secondary school whose parents meet income-define eligibility criteria. (See notes for eligibility criteria below.)

The Pandemic

But, while receipt of free school meals can be considered a marker of poverty, the pandemic has exposed and amplified pre-existing concerns about the restrictive eligibility criteria for them. These criteria prevent many low-income families from qualifying, while emerging evidence suggests that families just outside of the eligibility criteria struggled to afford food during the pandemic, potentially exacerbating child food insecurity – and with the rising cost of living, this is likely to impact even more children.

Bob Doherty, Professor of Marketing and Dean of the School for Business and Society, and Principal Investigator of the FixOurFood project, said: “We found that 35 per cent of children surveyed experienced food insecurities." 

“Of the number of children that received FSM, 60 per cent reported food insecurities, which was related to feeling hunger from not having enough food at home. On top of this 51 per cent felt stressed and worried on a daily basis, largely due to the stigma attached to having to access free meals and other poverty-related issues.”

Of the 20 per cent of children who also had food insecurities, but did not qualify for FSM, 29 per cent were at a higher risk of feeling stressed or worried on a daily basis, with this figure increasing to 51 per cent if they received FSM.

Dr Maria Bryant, Reader in Public Health Nutrition from the University of York’s Department of Health Sciences, and the Hull York Medical School, said: “Despite its obvious benefits, FSM is not universal and is determined by strict income-defined eligibility criteria meaning that FSM can be a marker of poverty." 

“It is clear from our research that it should not be a marker of poverty, not only to allow more children feeling daily hunger access to the scheme, but to reduce the stress and anxiety of being labelled as a child living in poverty.”

Eligibility criteria for secondary school children

Children are eligible for FSM if their parents receive: Income Support; Income-based Jobseekers Allowance; Income-related Employment and Support Allowance; Support under Part 5 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit; Child Tax Credit (provided they are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190); Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after a person stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit); and Universal Credit (with household income of less than £7,400 a year after tax and not including any benefits)) and claim for FSM.