HEALTHIER school menus could be on the way after more than 100 school cooks working across County Durham passed a test in nutrition and diet.
The cooks, who work for catering company Scolarest, earned the NCFC intermediate certificate in nutrition and health, covering topics such as food groups, healthy diets and food preparation methods, the nutritional needs of different age groups, special dietary requirements and issues such as food labelling and additives.
They achieved their qualification through a distance-learning course, supported by Bishop Auckland College.
Alison Hughes, Scolarest's operations executive in the county, said: "Our catering staff play a key role in helping pupils choose healthy, balanced meals.
"The new qualification has been designed to support the important work they do in schools, as well as helping them extend their nutritional knowledge."
Another 80 Scolarest cooks are due to start studying for the qualification over the next few weeks.
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