Could snails hold key to solving child obesity?

THEY are common offerings on French menus, highly regarded for being low in fat and high in protein.

Now a chef is calling for snails to be served in Scotland’s schools to help combat the country’s obesity epidemic.

Scots youngsters would likely gasp at the addition to a menu that popularly features food such as chicken nuggets and pizza.

But Fred Berkmiller – a Frenchman who runs two Edinburgh restaurants, L’Escargot Bleu and L’Escargot Blanc – believes it would be a good idea. He wants to serve up the gastropods along with such delicacies as fish heads to pupils as a way for ministers to show they are serious about making the country a ‘good-food nation’.

Berkmiller says pupils should grow vegetables and keep poultry at schools, which should each have a proper kitchen and a chef to help children learn how to eat healthily and sustainably.

Speaking as the government began a consultation on its diet and obesity strategy, which includes plans to curb supermarket promotions on foods high in fat, sugar or salt, Berkmiller said: ‘In the old days we had chefs buying raw ingredients and cooking proper meals for kids at school.

‘Now we come across far too many youngsters and adults who have no experience with food except the regular bland sandwich, the chippy or chicken nuggets.

‘Why haven’t Barra snails reached the local school yet? Or fish heads, which are thrown back into the sea? We are facing maybe three generations, grandparents, parents and children, who do not know how to cook. How can we create a nation of food and drink when people have no clue?

‘Schools have to step in. We could easily have a vegetable garden in every school, run by the pupils who could keep chickens and learn to cook them too.’

Food justice charity Nourish Scotland backed Berkmiller’s call, but said the focus should be ‘far wider’ than schools.

The Western Isles council said its schools met government nutrition guidelines with deep-fried food.