'My son was sent home from nursery for having Aldi yoghurt in packed lunch – it's absurd'

'My son was sent home from nursery for having Aldi yoghurt in packed lunch – it's absurd' EXCLUSIVE: New government guidelines mean that some packed lunch staples will be banned from kids' lunch boxes, leaving mum Katelan Martin "worried" about the "absurd" new rules A shocked mum has told how her “healthy-eating” son was sent home from nursery with a stern note because his supermarket yoghurt wasn't on the approved list. Katelan Martin received the warning that he would no longer be allowed to bring an Aldi strawberry yoghurt into the nursery as part of his packed lunch. The mum says the nursery’s “absurd” new rules will force hard-pressed families to spend much more on their kids’ lunches. Katelan explains that she picked up her three-year-old Jeffrey from nursery on September 16. When she opened the tot’s lunchbox on the way home she found a handwritten note in his lunchbox along with an uneaten Aldi Tube It strawberry yoghurt. "When I got home after the school run I read it,” she said. “It said 'unfortunately due to new policies we can no longer allow flavoured yogurts, it must be natural Greek style only'. "I laughed and I phoned my mum and showed her the note and said what is this about, it's literally just a strawberry yoghurt.” The nursery’s policy appears to be inspired by new government's guidelines, which are set to come into force in September 2027. They state that they can only serve lower-fat natural plain yoghurt and plain lower-fat fromage frais in school dinners. In terms of lunch boxes, they instruct headteachers to "not allow" sugary drinks, crisps and confectionery, and to "offer prizes and other incentives for bringing in a healthy lunch". However the Department for Education said establishments "set their own rules" and what they provide is only "guidance" intended to "encourage healthy choices". But Katelan says that she is “worried” that the policy is “demonising food,” adding that she’s concerned about the potential “detrimental impact” that the rules may have. She pointed out that buying the Greek yoghurt would be much more expensive for families: ”Packed lunches are supposed to be quick, easy, convenient and relatively cheap. One of those tubs of Greek yogurt goes out of date three days after being opened and it's double the price of a pack of [the kids yoghurt] for example so you would have to buy two tubs of those a week. You're looking at at least quadruple the price." After sharing her frustration around these nursery policies, Katelan is now concerned about the impact the "extreme" rules will have. She added: "I'm worried about the effects that this is going to have on him if he's being told that a strawberry flavoured yogurt is a bad food and he can't eat it. I wonder about the detrimental effect that is going to have on his vision and his view of food. "I think it is demonising food, we live in a world where unfortunately a lot of people suffer with eating disorders. Are we really setting our children up to have a good experience with food as adults if they're being told that something as simple as a flavoured yogurt is no longer allowed? "My kids eat healthy anyway but then to be told they're not allowed flavoured yogurts, I do think it's extreme." A Department for Education spokesperson said: "The guidance we provide to early years settings is to help them make sure young children get the tasty, nutritious meals they need to grow and thrive - including limiting foods too high in sugar. "Settings have always set their own rules on packed lunches. Our guidance doesn't change that - it just helps them to encourage healthy choices, as well as including advice on cost effective healthy food so changes work for every family." Aldi have been contacted for comment.