Schools to can junk food
13 May 2008
The bid to make New Zealand schools a healthier place will take another positive step when new government guidelines come into force next month.
The new healthy food guidelines will put an end to pupils' love affair with school tuck shop junk food and are designed to combat growing rates of obesity in the country. The new rules will be enforced in all state and state-integrated schools from the start of Term 3 in mid-July and will ensure all food and drinks sold at schools are healthy, nutritious and promote healthy food messages in classrooms.
The government intervened when tuck shop surveys which began in 2005 showed the standard fare included junk food that was undermining children’s ability to learn and concentrate in class. While some schools are still selling pies, hot dogs, sausage rolls, cakes, biscuits, chocolate and doughnuts many have responded to the guidelines and nowoffer a healthy alternative.
The new rules will enforce the health message and Fight the Obesity Epidemic spokeswoman Robyn Toomath says it is a relief that schools will now be forced to sell healthy food.
"Thank goodness we've got an imperative for them to do just that. I can't imagine there are schools who don't want their students to be eating healthily at lunchtime."
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