SNP ‘nanny state’ plans to improve children’s diets yesterday descended into farce as it banned birthday cakes in nurseries.
Ministers have drawn up new food guidelines for early learning providers and childminders in an effort to make youngsters healthier.
The rules – which will be rolled out this summer and enforced by Scotland’s care watchdog – prohibit childcare workers celebrating special occasions with treat foods.
The guidance reads: ‘Many families like to celebrate their child’s birthday and other special events, often by bringing in a cake or sweets to the childcare setting to share.
‘Unfortunately, this can mean that some children are eating these unhealthy foods several times a week…An alternative way of celebrating the occasion should be adopted and be part of your food and nutrition policy.’
It goes on to suggest: ‘This could be choosing a special activity or going on a special trip. It does not have to involve expense.’
The plans also ban items which are not traditionally seen as junk food, such as fresh orange juice, potato wedges and some granolas and yoghurts.
The Care Inspectorate will ‘expect registered childcare providers to be able to demonstrate how they are meeting this guidance’ during routine inspections.
Children will be banned from drinking fruit juices and will only be served water or milk
A list of the treats that are likely to be banned
Now, nursery workers fear they may receive poor performance reports if they are found to have occasionally given a child a treat – or even the wrong type of yoghurt.
One childminder who has worked in her role for two decades said the plans were ‘unrealistic’ and would undermine the ‘home from home’ feel many care providers seek to create for little ones.
The anonymous carer based in the Central Belt said: ‘There are so many childminders who are up in arms about this new guidance. It is just so unrealistic.
‘The feedback I’ve had from the parents is that they are totally in agreement.’
Critics have also said the plans represent ‘state overreach’.
Children and young people spokesman for the Scottish Tories Roz McCall said: ‘Everybody wants to promote healthier eating, especially when children are young, but it won’t happen by imposing such draconian rules or blanket prohibitions.
‘These guidelines risk becoming an onerous requirement for childminders and nurseries, and most people will see things like a ban on birthday cake as the worst kind of nanny state overreach.’
Director of the Free Speech Union Scotland, Fraser Hudghton said: ‘Not satisfied with policing what we say to each other over the dinner table or lecturing us not to follow Elon Musk on X, the SNP also want to hector childminders on how to feed the wee ones in their care – with the threat of dire inspection reports if they fail to implement their bonkers plans.’
According to the 108-page Setting The Table document, childcare providers must only serve water and milk to youngsters and ‘fruit juices and smoothies should not be made available at any point over the day’.
Oily fish must be served at least once every three weeks and red meat, including lean mince, should be limited to a maximum of three times per week.
Meanwhile cereal must only be provided if it contains no more than 15g of total sugar per 100g, no more than 440mg sodium per 100g, no more than 1.1g of salt per 100g, and has at least 3g of fibre per 100g.
If just one of these criteria is not met, the cereal must not be served, meaning that Sainsbury’s Raisin, Nut & Honey Granola, which has 17.5g of sugar per 100g, for example, will be banned under the scheme.
Additionally, most white breads are off limits, as only bread and bread rolls which contain a minimum of 3g of fibre per 100g can be provided.
Childminders should find an ‘alternative way of celebrating’ birthdays, the SNP guidance says
Many fruit juices contain vitamins, but they should not be served ‘at any point over the day’
Only plain and unsweetened yoghurts or fromage frais can be served.
No savoury snacks must be given to little ones, unless they are one of four options: ‘plain oatcakes, plain savoury crackers, plain rice cakes or breadsticks’.
Crisps, corn puffs, tortilla chips, pretzels, popcorn, prawn crackers, and Bombay mix are strictly off the menu.
Fried foods should also be limited to a maximum of once per week, including any ‘product which is fried in the manufacturing process’ such as chicken nuggets, potato wedges or fish fingers.
Ketchup and other condiments should not be left on the table at mealtimes to discourage their use.
Unsurprisingly, confectionary and chocolate is strictly forbidden. However, the ban also extends to birthday cake – even if it is brought in by the parents.
A Care Inspectorate spokesman said: ‘Nutritional options provided by care services have always been a part of our inspections.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said ‘the guidance has been developed in collaboration with experts in child health and nutrition, alongside partners in the childcare sector, including the Scottish Childminding Association’.