The education secretary has announced a wide ranging review of school meals in a bid to beat obesity.

Charles Clarke wants to tackle the growing crisis in children's health by focussing on the content of lunches provided by schools.

Ministers issued guidelines on minimum nutritional standards as recently as 2001, but they appear to have little impact with statistics showing young people's health rapidly deteriorating as a result of poor diet and a lack of exercise.

The Department for Education and Skills has now toughened up its stance, with its new Healthy Living Blueprint released on Monday looking at ways it can order reductions in salt, sugar and saturated fats levels in school meals.

"The guidelines encouraged schools to offer pupils a choice between, say, chicken nuggets and chips, and pasta and salad," a spokesman said.

"What they have proved is that you can take a horse to water but you can't make it drink."

Epidemic

Pressure is mounting on ministers to deal with the obesity epidemic, with the Department of Health conducting a widespread consultation on public health.

But the government is keen that voters do not expect all the answers to come from Whitehall, with other agencies and individuals taking their share of responsibility.

Teachers will be encouraged to include more nutrition advice into science and food technology courses, while heads are being pressured to make more provision for schools sports.

The government is also concerned not to be seen as a "nanny state" with the DfES spokesman adding that: "We want to reduce chip intake not to ban it."

However with Clarke set to announce plans for extended school hours later this week, more meals are likely to be provided by schools, where some control can be exercised over what children eat.

Achievement

Clarke said healthier children would also achieve more at school.

"Good health and effective learning go hand-in-hand, a healthy body leads to a healthy mind," he said.

"The partnership of parents and school is critical in shaping good health in children, and schools are well-placed to lead by example.

"The Healthy School Programme has already achieved much in developing a whole-school approach to health and wellbeing for young people, I hope that the Blueprint will build on this foundation, and encourage schools to play a full part in the health of the nation."

Health Secretary John Reid added that: "Children are our future and I am determined to do everything I can to ensure they get the best start in life.

"This valuable initiative will encourage them to live healthy and active lives at school and at home, and I am delighted to support it.

"We will be setting out our plans to enable everyone - young and old - to live healthier lives in our white paper on public health later this year."

'Incoherent'

But the Conservatives have criticised the latest initiative.

Shadow health minister Simon Burns said: "The government's approach to tackling
the problems of poor diet and obesity in schools, like their approach to all public health issues, has been haphazard and lacks coherence.

"Labour needs to work in conjunction with parents and sport initiatives.

"We are all tired of hearing about new projects, be they committees, obesity summits, or consultation papers. After seven years in office Labour should have some answers.

"What we need is a central coherent strategy to link together all the department initiatives and a public health commissioner to ensure that it is delivered."