It’s fish and microchips at school canteen

Pupils who eat chips every day will soon be found out — because Big Brother is watching. A London primary school is testing new "canteen spy" technology that automatically logs every food choice on a child's tray at lunchtime.

A full menu, including main courses, side dishes and puddings chosen by each pupil, is uploaded to a website where parents can log on to monitor their offspring's dietary habits.

The system has been used at St John's Church of England School in Stanmore, Middlesex, under a trial by Harrow Council. An airport-style till allows dinner ladies to check each of the 300 primary pupils' names against digital photos before they can tuck in.

Education chiefs hope the system will encourage healthy eating as parents can make sure children get a balanced diet at school and at home.

But there are also safety benefits as the system records pupils' allergies, and the till rejects unsuitable foods.