‘All schools should have new diet rules’
Anti-obesity expert says policy must be widespread
AS new rules were launched yesterday that prevent some Statefunded schools from serving calorie-laden junk food to pupils, there were calls for the guidelines to be extended to all schools.
Meals served in disadvantaged Deis schools will have to abide by strict nutritional standards and remove sweets as an option under new guidelines launched yesterday by Education Minister Richard Bruton and Health Minister Simon Harris.
Around 1,000 schools currently receive funding for meals under the School Meals Programme.
The majority of these receive Government funding as part of the Deis scheme for schools in disadvantaged areas.
But yesterday the HSE’s new anti-obesity chief claimed all schools should adopt the same policy and also address the use of vending machines, given that one in four Irish children are either obese or overweight.
Dr Donal O’Shea, a consultant at St Vincent’s University Hospital, said: ‘I think the Government can clearly act around the meals that it funds, it can clearly act around facilities like the HSE which it funds to be more proactive in providing healthy options and less of the rubbish.
‘I think the other schools will follow and if they don’t we just have to look at why they weren’t doing it given where we are in terms of the obesity problem.
‘My understanding from the schools and teachers I have spoken to is that they are all up for it, but issues like income from vending machines need to be addressed before they will be able to stop some of that stuff.’
The guidelines state that sweets such as crisps, chocolate, cakes and biscuits, must not be served and will not be funded.
Fried food, such as chips, roast potatoes, fried potatoes, products fried in the manufacturing process should only be served a maximum of one day per week.
Other foods in this category include garlic bread, fried fish or meals containing pastry.
On this day, half of the meal offering should be a healthy option and there is guidance given on limiting fried foods.
Processed meat or chicken products such as burgers, sausages and chicken nuggets should only be served a maximum of once a week.
Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty was also at the launch as her department receives funding for the programme. Launching the programme at City Quay National School in Dublin’s inner city yesterday, Minister Bruton said: ‘The programme reaches a quarter of a million pupils, so it’s a really important part of our support – particularly in disadvantaged areas. It means that in those schools we will be getting the very best nutrition, and that helps learning performance.
‘For the other 3,000 schools we have, over three quarters of them have adopted healthy-food guidelines but they don’t have the force of Regina’s directives, which ensure that in the schools where financial support goes they will be followed.
‘The guidelines are very practical. They’re saying eating more fruit, taking out some of the wellknown junk foods... It’s good guidance and I think it will make a big difference.’
Around 3,000 schools do not avail of the School Meals Programme, which has a budget of almost €50million, and which benefits almost 250,000 children.
‘It will make a big difference’