FLAVOURED milk has been removed from Glasgow's primary schools in a bid to boost health among the city's children.

Pupils returning to class following the summer holidays will find only plain milk now on the menu as a means of reducing sugar consumption.

Some 31,000 cartons of milk are consumed each day in Glasgow's 139 primary schools with 16,000 of these being flavoured.

Each serving of flavoured milk contains 5.8g more sugar than the plain product.

Julia McCreadie, Cordia’s (Services) LLP’s Head of Encore and Facilities Management, said: “We place a major emphasis on ensuring our menus are both healthy and nutritional, appetising to children with a wide range of dietary requirements and preferences. 

“Through our We Love Scottish Milk campaign, we’ll encourage the uptake of milk as a lunchtime choice, entering the next phase of our approach to reducing sugar consumption in the Fuel Zone [school dining areas].

“We work closely with nutritionists and the Scottish Government to refine our menus with research showing we can strike the correct balance between sugar and calcium.

“Ultimately, we want to provide delicious, healthy options for children throughout Glasgow and we’ll continue look at further ways to achieve this.”

Cordia will actively promote plain milk in school Fuel Zones and reward children with a sticker every time they chose it from the menu.  

In addition teachers will cover the benefits of drinking plain milk in the classroom.

Flavoured milk was introduced to menus as a method of encouraging pupils to increase calcium intake, which has been successful.

However, Cordia now says it plans to focus on further enhancements to nutritional value.

Every product served in city schools is compliant with the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007. 

Councillor Chris Cunningham, City Convener for Education, Skills & Early Years, said: “Glasgow has never been afraid to take bold moves to make our school meal service the very best it can be – nutritionally balanced and tasty.  

"Our schools actively encourage the children to adopt a healthy lifestyle to help them learn and achieve and we are happy to support this by taking action.”

All the milk Cordia serves in Glasgow schools is sourced directly from Scottish cows via its supplier, Muller Wiseman Dairies.

Milk offers children health benefits including calcium for stronger teeth and bones as well protein for building muscle. 

It is also a source of Vitamin B2, B5, B12 and iodine.