JAMIE Oliver went from naked chef to national hero with his campaign to improve school dinners. His Channel 4 series exposed the processed junk being fed to many pupils. The turkey twizzler came to symbolise State neglect of our children's health.

Thousands of parents signed a petition, delivered by Oliver to Downing Street, and the Government was forced to appoint a panel of experts to look at school dinners.

What no one could have foreseen, least of all Jamie Oliver, is that his programme could harm students' diets.

The North Yorkshire school dinner service has a justified reputation for putting nutrition first. Long before Mr Oliver had first said "pukka" on screen, Herbie The Carrot was touring county schools promoting the good food message. Herbie stands for Healthy Eating Really Better In Every way.

The education authority, which spends more than the national average on school meals, banished the turkey twizzler months ago.

Unfortunately, many parents have taken the failures uncovered in the TV programme to be indicative of all school dinners. As a result more pupils are taking a packed lunch instead.

If that sandwich box contains crisps, chocolate biscuits and fizzy drinks, it could be less nourishing than the school meal it replaced.

North Yorkshire County Caterers should invite Jamie Oliver to try out their menu for himself. An endorsement from Britain's child health champion would see take-up of school dinners rocket.

Updated: 11:33 Monday, May 23, 2005