According to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), while Oliver’s work has successfully improved the nutritional value of school meals in recent years, packed lunches have become unhealthier.
It cites School Food Trust research released last year that found 40 per cent of primary school children’s lunchboxes do not contain any fruit and vegetables.
WCRF head of education Kate Mendoza said: "There is no doubt Jamie Oliver helped achieve great things for the food served in school canteens. But as the nutritional content of school canteen meals has improved, the healthiness of the content of lunchboxes has been left behind.
"It is disappointing that children are going to school with lunchboxes that are not playing their part in helping to encourage the kind of healthy diet that is so important for their future. This is why we want to get across the message to parents that including a piece of fruit or using a portion of salad as a filling for a sandwich are positive things they can do for their children’s health."
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