British Muslim children’s and parents’ views on halal school food: a participatory study

This article examines British Muslim school children’s (BMSC’s) food practices and preferences, focusing on halal meal availability in grant-maintained schools. These schools should comply with the school food standards (SFS). This article addresses a research and policy gap on religious dietary inclusion in schools. Using a participatory action research design, 27 participants (19 children and eight parents) from South Asian backgrounds co-designed visual methods (drawing, ranking and recipe creation) to address the research aims. A public involvement and community engagement group shaped the study from inception to dissemination. Thematic analysis identified three themes: (1) religious dietary requirements and school food consumption behaviour; (2) intergenerational preferences and food identity; and (3) food improvements and menu design. BMSC choose vegetarian foods to comply with religious beliefs, given limited halal options. While schools comply with the SFS, limited options exist for religious and cultural inclusion. Findings highlight how participatory methods amplify minority voices and inform inclusive policies. The article argues for mandatory inclusive school food policies rather than current optional policies that contribute to food inequity. We propose the equitable provision of both halal and non-halal options for BMSC, and parents felt that halal provision would promote greater choice, equity and inclusivity. It positions food provision as a religious right and social justice issue under the Equality Act 2010. Further work should explore equitable school meal provision.