5 October 2007

Experts gather to discuss free school meals initiatives

Note - interview opportunities both before (9.30 - 10am) and after (12.30 - 1.00 p.m) the meeting.

The impact of providing free school meals to children will be examined at a meeting hosted by the University of Dundee next week.

Around 50 representatives from academia, health, education, Government and the Food Standards Agency are expected to attend Tuesday’s meeting at the West Park Conference Centre, titled `Free School Meals for all - The Hull Experience’.

The issue of free school meals has moved higher on the public agenda since the Scottish Government announced its intention to pilot free meals for all children in Primary 1 to 3 in five local authorities.

Delegates to Tuesday’s meeting will hear a presentation from Professor Derek Colquhoun, of the University of Hull, on the evaluation of the free school meal pilot in Hull.

"The Hull pilot involved all primary schools and special schools in Hull, so the background, method and results of the evaluation are therefore highly relevant to Scotland," said Dr Wendy L Wrieden, of the Centre for Public Health Nutrition Research at the University of Dundee.

Lisa Gatenby, a nutritionist from the University of Hull, will also provide analysis of children's nutritional intake through the `Eat Well Do Well’ project in Hull.

The meeting will be opened by North East Scotland MSP Nigel Don. The meeting is being hosted by the Centre for Public Health Nutrition Research at the University of Dundee and is funded by the Scottish Government Schools Directorate.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Centre for Public Health Nutrition Research in Dundee provides a unique opportunity for diet and health issues to be developed from the medical arena, combining public health nutrition with research in social, behavioural and biological sciences.

The centre offers a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding food choice, measuring dietary intake, changing consumer behaviour and assessing the impact of diet on health with abilities to draw on skills and resources in other academic and health service groups.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk