BPA Regulations Are Changing: What School Meal Providers Need to Know
There is no need to worry about the tableware you already use
BPA regulations for food contact materials are changing across Europe, and the UK is moving in the same direction.
For school meal providers, caterers and local authority catering teams, the most important message is simple:
There is no need to do anything and no need to replace Harfield polycarbonate tableware immediately.
Harfield polycarbonate tableware remains suitable for continued use in school dining rooms. The upcoming changes are about the future use of BPA in food contact materials, not a sudden safety warning on products already in service.
At Harfield, we are already preparing for the change. Over the next 12 to 16 months, we will transition our core polycarbonate school tableware ranges to BPA-free copolyester alternatives.
For schools and caterers, the transition should feel seamless.
What is BPA?
BPA, or Bisphenol A, is a chemical used in the manufacture of some food contact materials. This includes certain plastics, coatings and other materials used in food packaging, preparation, storage and service.
The Food Standards Agency has consulted on proposals to restrict the use of BPA and related bisphenols in food contact materials. The aim is to reduce long-term dietary exposure to these substances.
This does not mean that every product containing BPA is suddenly unsafe. Food contact materials already have to meet strict legal requirements, including limits on migration into food.
What does this mean for school meal providers?
For school caterers, the practical implications are straightforward.
You do not need to remove existing Harfield polycarbonate tableware from your dining rooms.
You do not need to throw away usable plates, bowls, beakers or tumblers.
You do not need to make an urgent emergency purchase.
Instead, this is a managed transition for manufacturers and suppliers.
As existing polycarbonate ranges are replaced, Harfield will move to BPA-free copolyester versions. These will be designed to offer the same practical benefits schools already expect from Harfield tableware.
Why Harfield is moving to BPA-free copolyester
Harfield has supplied school dining rooms for decades. We understand that school tableware needs to be practical, durable and easy to manage.
Our products are used every day in busy dining halls, often by hundreds of pupils in a short lunch service. They need to withstand repeated handling, stacking, washing and reuse.
That is why we are moving carefully.
Our aim is to ensure that our BPA-free copolyester ranges continue to offer the performance that schools rely on, including:
- strong, reusable products for daily school use
- lightweight tableware that is easy for pupils and staff to handle
- dishwasher-safe products for professional catering environments
- familiar shapes, colours and sizes wherever possible
- a smooth transition for schools, caterers and distributors
In most cases, customers should not notice a practical difference when ranges move from polycarbonate to copolyester.
What is copolyester?
Copolyester is a high-performance plastic that is already used in many food contact applications.
It offers many of the same benefits that make polycarbonate popular in schools. It is clear, strong, reusable and suitable for demanding catering environments.
The key difference is that the copolyester grades Harfield will use for these ranges are BPA free.
This allows schools to continue using practical, reusable tableware while remaining prepared for future regulatory changes.
Why this is not a recall
It is important to be clear: this is not a product recall.
A recall normally happens when a product presents an immediate safety issue. That is not the situation here.
The regulatory changes are about the future use of BPA in food contact materials. They are not an instruction for schools to remove existing Harfield polycarbonate products from use.
In fact, replacing perfectly usable reusable tableware too early would create unnecessary cost and waste.
The most sensible approach is to keep using your current Harfield products until they reach the end of their normal working life, then replace them with the updated BPA-free versions when needed. You can still buy polycarbonate tableware up until July 2027 whilst stocks last.
What Harfield is doing now
Harfield is already planning and managing the transition.
Over the next 12 to 16 months, more of our core education ranges will become available in BPA-free copolyester. We are working to keep product performance, colours and availability as consistent as possible.
Our priorities are:
Continuity
Schools should still be able to order the tableware they know and trust.
Performance
Products must remain suitable for busy school dining environments.
Clarity
We will keep customers and distributors updated as ranges transition.
Reassurance
There is no need for panic buying or immediate replacement of products already in use.
What should schools and caterers do?
For most school meal providers, the best approach is simple.
Keep using your existing Harfield polycarbonate tableware as normal.
Review your stock levels as part of your usual replacement cycle.
Speak to your distributor or Harfield if you are planning a large tableware refresh.
Move to the BPA-free copolyester versions as they become available.
This is a managed change, not an emergency.
Supporting school caterers through change
School catering teams already have a great deal to manage. Free school meal expansion, budget pressure, menu changes, allergen management, sustainability targets and busy lunch services are all placing pressure on the sector.
The BPA transition should not add unnecessary worry.
Harfield is working to make the process as straightforward as possible. Our aim is to ensure schools can continue using durable, reusable tableware with confidence.
The material may change, but the core Harfield promise remains the same:
Safe, strong, practical tableware designed for the demands of school dining.
Need advice?
If you are reviewing your school tableware, planning a summer replacement programme or have questions about BPA-free alternatives, please contact Harfield or speak to your usual distributor.
We will be happy to help you choose the right products for your school catering operation.
FAQ section
Is Harfield polycarbonate tableware still safe to use?
Yes. Harfield polycarbonate tableware remains suitable for continued use in school dining rooms. The regulatory changes relate to future food contact material rules and are not a recall of products already in service.
Do schools need to throw away existing polycarbonate tableware?
No. Schools do not need to throw away usable Harfield polycarbonate products. We recommend continuing to use existing tableware until it reaches the end of its normal working life.
Can schools still buy polycarbonate tableware?
Yes. Schools and caterers can continue to buy Harfield polycarbonate tableware while stocks remain available.
Harfield polycarbonate tableware is still perfectly safe to buy and use. It remains one of the most suitable materials for school dining because it is strong, lightweight, reusable, dishwasher safe and proven in busy school catering environments.
As regulations change, Harfield will gradually transition core ranges to BPA-free copolyester. Until then, any remaining polycarbonate stock can continue to be supplied and used with confidence.
There is no need to avoid polycarbonate products that are currently available, and there is no need to replace existing Harfield tableware before the end of its normal working life.
Is Harfield changing its products?
Yes. Harfield is transitioning core polycarbonate ranges to BPA-free copolyester over the next 12 to 16 months.
Will schools notice a difference?
In most cases, no. Our aim is to keep products as familiar and practical as possible, with similar shapes, colours and performance.
What is the best replacement for polycarbonate school tableware?
For demanding school catering environments, Harfield recommends BPA-free copolyester as the preferred replacement material. It offers strength, clarity, reusability and long-term performance.
Should schools buy new products now?
Not unless they need to. Schools should continue with normal replacement planning. If you are placing a large order or preparing for a new academic year, speak to Harfield or your distributor for the latest product availability.