Big brands market junk food in schools, report finds

A new report from Bite Back, a youth movement pushing back against big food giants marketing unhealthy food to young people, has released a report revealing the prevalence of major food and drink companies in school settings.

In 2024, Bite Back’s investigations found that seven out of the top ten food and drink manufacturers in the UK were mainly selling unhealthy products. In 2022, these companies spent £55 million on online adverts for products from four food categories that are associated with children’s excess sugar and calorie intake: biscuits, chocolate, crisps, and ice cream. Further investigations found that big food companies like Domino’s, Subway and Greggs had opened almost 1,000 more outlets within 400m of schools compared to 2014.

The report, Fuel Us Don’t Fool Us, spotlights how marketing strategies work to make these brand commonplace in schools, and identified 65 instances of food and drink companies marketing through schools, done through five different methods.

The first is hosting these brands on campus, with companies like Costa Coffee (owned by Coca-Cola) and Starbucks operating outlets in some sixth-form colleges, which are exempt from the School Food Standards that are in place in primary and secondary schools across the country.

Big Food companies also provided branded lesson plans, workbooks, and activity sheets, which adds credibility to the brand. For example, between 2021 and 2023, McDonald’s collaborated with a primary school to design their first-ever net zero restaurant, which students designing a biodiversity garden and nature trail. Since 2007, Nestlé has funded UK charity Phunky Foods, which is an early years and primary school wellbeing and healthy lifestyle curriculum, yet in 2022, 70 per cent of Nesté’s sales were from products high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS).

Another tactic is corporate food and drink brands hosting school trips, with companies such as Pizza Express and Domino’s hosting school visits, including tours and cooking demonstrations.

Additionally, Big Food companies are also involved in school fundraisers and rewards, which are areas where school food standards don’t apply, with little transparency around discounts or donations.

Even the thought the sale of packaged crisps and confectionary from global brands like Pringles and Cadbury do not comply with the school food standards, they are routinely sold in schools.

The report makes sever recommendations to update school food standards as Big Food continues to grow, as well as introducing an accountability framework to ensure compliance.