BRITAIN: The extent of the ban on junk food and drink in schools in England and Wales emerged yesterday as the UK education secretary, Ruth Kelly, pledged to end "the scandal" of poor-quality meals and snacks served to hundreds of thousands of children.
Under the proposals, children will only be able to drink water, skimmed and semi-skimmed milk, pure fruit juices, certain types of smoothies and yoghurt and milk drinks made with less than 10 per cent added sugar.
Colas, all other fizzy, sugary drinks, and drinks with artificial sweeteners, will have to be removed, whether from canteens or vending machines. Sweets, chocolate, chewing gum, cereal bars, fruit bars and chocolate-coated biscuits will also be banned. Salty snacks such as crisps and salted nuts will go and salt will not be allowed on the table in school canteens.
A long list of junk food has been drawn up by a government-appointed expert review panel, whose report will be published in full next week. Ms Kelly will review the recommendations, which include the stipulation that certain foods should only be used sparingly.
Processed meats made of reformed or reconstituted meat will be banned, although sausages and burgers made from proper meat will be allowed. Other items will be controlled so that meals may not contain deep-fried food and ice cream more than twice a week.
Announcing the ban on junk food in vending machines, Ruth Kelly told the Labour Party conference: "I am absolutely clear that the scandal of junk food served every day in school canteens must end. So today I can announce that I will ban low-quality reprocessed bangers and burgers high in fat, salt and sugar being served in schools, from next September." Teachers' leaders and headteachers gave a mixed response to the announcement. Schools typically make between £13,000 and £15,000 (€19,000 and €22,000) a year profit from vending machines and many have come to rely on the money to pay for extra staff or equipment.
Mick Brookes, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said many children and parents would simply bring in packed lunches full of junk food: "We wholeheartedly support healthy schools programmes, but to expect schools to provide a quality meal for less than the price of the cheapest unhealthy burger does not stand up to serious scrutiny."
The food industry was also quick to condemn the approach, saying bans would not work. "Banning foods is neither a sensible nor an effective solution to tackling obesity. Balance is the key and bans will not help teach children how to build a balanced diet," Martin Paterson, the deputy director of the Food and Drink Federation, said.
Once the panel's report is published, a consultation period will follow during which intense negotiation over the details is expected to take place. - (Guardian service)