SA Right Bite Food and Drink Supply Standards

Schools in South Australia follow the Right Bite Food and Drink Supply Standards (Right Bite Standards), which aims to ensure that healthy food and drink options are available for students in South Australian schools.

Schools are encouraged to apply the Right Bite Standards in all situations where food is supplied, such as the school canteen, breakfast programs, excursions and camps, fundraising events and sports days, classroom activities, out of school hours care (OSHC) and vending machines.

The Right Bite Standards use a traffic light system to classify foods and drinks based on their nutritional value.

GREEN (best options)
GREEN foods and drinks reflect the five food groups in the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating – they are the healthiest choices and should therefore make up the majority of options available (aim for 60%). GREEN foods and drinks should be displayed in prominent positions and actively promoted and encouraged.

AMBER (choose carefully):
AMBER foods and drinks should be selected carefully and consumed in moderation. Therefore, AMBER items should not dominate the options available (aim for less than 40%) and should be offered in smaller portions.

RED 1 (limit to twice per term):
RED 1 foods and drinks reflect discretionary foods and drinks in the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and should therefore be consumed rarely and in small amounts. These foods and drinks should not be sold or provided to students, except for up to twice per term as part of whole of school celebrations, fetes or fundraising events. RED 1 foods and drinks should not be promoted or displayed.

RED 2 (should not be supplied):
RED 2 foods and drinks reflect discretionary foods and drinks in the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and should therefore be consumed rarely and in small amounts. These foods and drinks should not be promoted, supplied, provided or sold at all. 

Resources

Food and Drink Classification Guide – Everything you need to know about classifying foods and drinks against the Right Bite Food and Drink Supply Standards.

The School Canteen Buyers’ Guide 2023 for ACT, NT, Qld, SA and Vic – A valuable tool to help school canteen managers build healthy canteen menus.

This resource contains a list of products that have been assessed against each state/territory’s school canteen guidelines and policies. Products are classified as GREENAMBER or RED.

Support Available

Department for Education
Engagement and Wellbeing – Healthy Eating

To get in contact, call (08) 8226 1931 or email education.rightbite@sa.gov.au.

Healthy Kids Support LineMembers of Healthy Kids can access a range of support options to help them keep in line with the Right Bite Strategy, and how to promote healthy options in schools. Support includes canteen recipes, templates that will assist you in managing a school canteen, menu feedback and advice from our team of dietitians.

To get in contact, call us on 1300 724 850 or email info@healthy-kids.com.au.