Nutritional standards for preschool child care units--are there any?

: In the UK the number of places for full-day care of preschool children is increasing and many young children receive their meals in nurseries and other child care facilities. Some young children spend up to five days each week at nurseries or with childminders and may have their breakfast, lunch and tea there, as well as snacks. Good nutrition in the preschool years is increasingly regarded as important for children's present and future health. Nutritional problems are common in this age group: iron deficiency anaemia is more common than in older children, constipation is common, dental caries are prevalent and rates of obesity are rising. In the UK, only Scotland has comprehensive national nutritional guidelines for 1-5 year olds and these are not obligatory. Although local authority or health bodies and a few voluntary organisations have produced nutritional guidelines or policies, there are no mandatory standards monitored by an external agency, such as exist for school meals. This situation should be remedied to safeguard the health of preschool children. In addition to national standards, training and support from registered dietitians is desirable as many nurseries and childminders do not have the expertise to ensure the required nutrients for this vulnerable age group.