Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the school milk subsidy scheme includes milk alternatives in the event that children have dairy allergies.

The school milk subsidy is limited to milk and specific eligible dairy products and there are no plans to change this. The School Food Standards regulate the food and drink provided at both lunchtime and at other times of the school day. While these require milk to be available, we also expect schools to make reasonable adjustments for pupils with particular requirements, to reflect for example dietary or cultural needs. Schools are enabled by the guidance to provide a variety of other drinks including plain soya, rice or oat drinks enriched with calcium and combination and flavoured variations of these drinks. Further information is available on gov.uk at the following link.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools/allergy-guidance-for-schools.

A joint Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)/Committee on Toxicity (COT) Working Group was established in Autumn 2021 to conduct a benefit/risk assessment considering both nutritional and toxicological aspects associated with consumption of plant-based drinks by the UK population. The work of the Working Group is ongoing. The outcome of this assessment will provide integrated advice to the Department of Health and Social Care and other government departments on policy in this area. More information is available at the following link.

Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)