In a move aimed at tackling growing child hunger and poverty, the UK government has expanded eligibility for free school meals in England to all children whose parents are on universal credit. Officials say the policy will benefit an additional 500,000 pupils, raising the number of children receiving free lunches in England to around 2.7 million — roughly 26% of the nation’s school-aged population.
Currently, all children aged four to seven (infant school) in England already qualify for free hot meals, regardless of family income. The latest expansion builds on that provision but still falls short of universal coverage — an approach that is becoming increasingly common elsewhere in the UK and around the world.
Scotland and Wales Lead the Way
Compared to England, the devolved nations offer broader support. In Scotland, all children from primary one through five (ages four to ten) are eligible for free meals. Wales has gone further, offering free school meals to all children in primary education, regardless of income.
Globally, many countries have embraced even more ambitious models. In Finland and Sweden, for example, all schoolchildren receive free meals, from early years through secondary education.
A Persistent Crisis
The UK continues to grapple with high levels of child poverty. In 2023–24, an estimated 3.4 million children — about 23% — were living in households with incomes below the poverty line. The problem is especially severe in urban areas, where housing costs and food insecurity place immense pressure on low-income families.
The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the economic impacts of Brexit, has worsened the situation. Job losses and rising inflation have led to a surge in hunger and hardship among children, sparking criticism from medical and social experts who argue the UK has not done enough to support vulnerable families.
The British Medical Association has highlighted the government’s lack of a coordinated strategy to address child hunger, malnutrition, and the rising rates of childhood obesity.
An Outlier Among Wealthy Nations
Compared to its international peers, the UK performs poorly in child poverty metrics. In 2023, it ranked 37th out of 39 high-income countries for child income poverty — ahead of only Turkey and Colombia. Interestingly, the UK’s adult poverty levels are closer to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average, suggesting that children are disproportionately affected.
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This contrast underscores the importance of targeted interventions — like school meals — that directly address child welfare.
Global Success Stories
Around the world, school meal programs have been central to efforts to combat child poverty and improve educational outcomes. According to estimates, nearly half of all school meals globally are offered free of charge, feeding approximately 418 million children each year.
Some of the most successful initiatives operate in countries like India, where the “mid-day meal scheme” provides lunches to 125 million children aged six to 14. Brazil, Indonesia, and several African nations also run large-scale meal programs that serve as lifelines for low-income families.
Evidence from these countries shows the far-reaching impact of school meals. In India, school food programs have been linked to improved cognitive development, higher school attendance, and even intergenerational health benefits. Children born to women who received school meals as children themselves tend to have better health and growth outcomes.
Broader Health and Economic Gains
Free school meals also offer long-term benefits for public health and the economy. In the U.S. and UK, studies have shown that children with consistent access to nutritious meals are less likely to develop obesity. In Sweden, longitudinal research has found that free meals in schools lead to better academic performance, healthier adults, and even higher lifetime earnings — particularly among children from lower-income families. For those in the lowest income quartile, access to nine years of free school meals increased lifetime income by an average of 6%.
From a cost perspective, these programs are highly efficient. A 2025 EU report estimates that every euro spent on school meal programs could yield returns of between seven and 34 euros by reducing future healthcare and welfare costs.
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A Human Rights Issue
Despite the evidence, the UK remains one of the few high-income nations not fully committed to universal school meals. It has also not signed the School Meals Coalition, a global partnership of 108 countries aiming to provide free school meals to every child by 2030.
Nutrition experts and child welfare advocates argue that beyond its economic and academic benefits, ensuring a child has access to healthy meals is a basic human right. The expansion of free school meals in England is a step in the right direction — but for many, it still does not go far enough.
As the rest of the world moves toward universal access, pressure is growing on the UK to do the same — not just to address today’s hunger, but to invest in a healthier, more equitable future for the next generation.
