JAMIE Oliver said he felt “very, very let down” by Education Secretary Michael Gove, whom he accused of “eroding nutritional standards” in schools.

Speaking while visiting his new York restaurant, the TV chef and school food campaigner said the progress in recent years risked being undone now by a lack of Government interest.

He said he was astonished by the attitude, given the high rates rate of diet – related disease and said the health of children and their futures should be a priority.

Mr Oliver said: “It’s really, really, really worrying times in education at the moment. Mr Gove is only taking us back as far as school food is concerned.”

He said when he first met Mr Gove, Labour had introduced 18 hours of cooking classes as compulsory and Mr Gove he was talking about doubling that, but now he was considering axing it.

Mr Oliver said: “I am very let down – very, very let down and I’m kind of not even interested.”

I’ve almost said I’m going to crack on for five years and I’ll come back.”