Publishing a new set of nutritional standards for school meals, Alan Johnson has promised to undo "decades of neglect".

The guidelines will ban fizzy drinks, crisps, chocolate and low-quality meat, while deep-fried food will be restricted to two portions a week.

Instead pupils will be given a minimum of two portions of fruit and vegetables with every meal.

Admitting school dinners had suffered from "decades of under-investment", the education secretary said the new meals would prove popular if they were "more attractive and healthier".

Stakeholder Response: NASUWT

Chris Keates, general secretary of NASUWT, said: "The DfES's decision to implement in full the recommendations of the School Food Trust will make a valuable contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of youngsters.

"There is a demonstrable link between good nutrition and good academic standards and poor diet and poor behaviour.

"Although the food standards are welcome, NASUWT does have concerns about the potential for increased bureaucratic burdens on schools and additional workload for headteachers.

"In addition, the implications of using Ofsted to inspect the standards are as yet unclear but experience shows there is rarely good news for schools when Ofsted is involved."

Stakeholder Response: ASCL

ASCL general secretary Dr John Dunford said: "All teachers recognise that a healthy diet promotes better concentration and improved achievement. Schools and colleges are very willing to do their part to encourage healthy eating and more exercise, and many of them have already introduced healthier canteens and tuck shops.

"These new standards are another example of the government’s increasing micromanagement of schools. Many schools have had to enter into long-term, complex contracts with catering companies which may be time-consuming and costly to re-negotiate by the 1 September deadline.

"The problem of obesity among young people cannot be solved by the paltry £2000 of additional funding going to secondary schools after the over-hyped Jamie Oliver initiative. Children eat at most 190 meals a year in school. It is much more important to educate parents and to limit the food industry’s marketing campaigns, which continue to target young people with advertisements for unhealthy products.

"At the end of the day, schools can offer two portions of fruit and veg with every meal, but there is no requirement for students to eat it. They can still bring in a packed lunch full of crisps and junk food from home. The only way to reverse the obesity trend is through the food industry and through the education of both of parents and students.

"The DfES might have more credibility with schools if it practised what it preached in its own canteen. When is the department going to ban the sale of crisps, chocolate and fizzy drinks in its own buildings?"

Stakeholder Response: HCIMA

A spokesman said: "The HCIMA welcomes the government action in removing 'junk' food from the school meal offer.

"However it will be necessary for this to be followed up with enhanced funding for both fresh food sourcing and, the ongoing training and development of in -house school meals providers. It is essential that the education of the public at large on the benefits of healthy eating and good food is maintained.

"It needs to be recognised that the provision of junk/fast food was the response to the substantial changes to school meals provision arrangements and contracting out of the school meals services and a direct result of squeezing costs.

"Improving the health of the nation is without doubt a number one priority and additional investment in this area is likely to pay dividends if only to relieve the pressures on the NHS.

"It is a start but one which will falter if not followed up by adequate and relevant support."

Stakeholder Response: Which?

Sue Davies, chief policy adviser at Which?, said: "It's great news that so much effort has been put into improving the quality of school meals so children will have a range of healthy options available to them.

"However unless there are tighter restrictions on the way companies market unhealthy food to children it will be hard for parents to reinforce the healthy eating messages out of school.

"Food advertising affects the foods that children choose and our research has shown that almost four out of five (79 per cent) parents think that TV ads for unhealthy foods should not be shown during the times children are most likely to be watching TV."