The English government has announced its most sweeping update to school food standards in over a decade, with new rules set to ban deep-fried items such as battered fish and chicken nuggets and require all school puddings to contain at least 50% fruit. The changes, which take effect in stages from September 2025 with further measures by 2027, aim to address childhood obesity rates — NHS data shows that 24% of nursery and primary school children in England were overweight or living with obesity as of 2024. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson described the overhaul as "the most ambitious in a generation," while chef and long-time school food campaigner Jamie Oliver noted that during term time, schools provide roughly two-thirds of a child's daily diet, making the reforms a significant opportunity to improve public health at scale.