INDEPTH: FOOD
Junk food in schools
CBC News Online | May 6, 2006
 Pop machines are popular in schools. (CP Photo)
Foods high in fat, sugar and salt – such as processed meats, candy, chocolate and salty snacks – would be out and fruits, vegetables and fish would be in.
Not only that, but the government-subsidized school meals will also have "stringent nutrient-based standards" in place in the next few years.
Much of the credit for the government's move to ban junk food has gone to celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, the so-called Naked Chef.
In the spring of 2005, Oliver starred in a British reality show, Jamie's School Dinners, in which he was challenged to feed a school's students on the U.K. government subsidy, less than a dollar per student a day.
The show criticized the high-fat, high-salt diet being offered to British students, exemplified by the turkey twizzler, a spiral of breaded, deep-fried processed turkey meat.
Opposition parties in London accused Prime Minister Tony Blair of jumping on the Jamie Oliver bandwagon prior to the general election in May 2005. The Labour party denied that the campaign was a reaction to Oliver's show.
The U.K. plan would not only ban junk and push healthier options, it would also boost spending on school lunches by $580 million over the next three years. As well, home economics, called cookery lessons in the U.K., would be reintroduced at the secondary school level.
In Canada
While Canada doesn't have federally subsidized school meals, there have been efforts in several provinces to get junk food out of schools.
In Ontario, the provincial government has required school boards to replace the chips and pop in their elementary school vending machines with milk, juice, nuts and granola.
In October 2005, New Brunswick immediately banned junk food from elementary school cafeterias, vending machines, canteens and fundraising schemes. The announced plan would also phase out junk food from high schools over two years.
British Columbia is considering similar legislation. Quebec politicians are considering a tax on junk food.
Major U.S. beverage companies agreed in May 2006 to sell only water, juice and low-fat milks in American elementary and middle schools. In high schools, diet soda will still be sold, as will unsweetened teas, sports drinks and flavoured water.
The companies said they would try to implement the ban in 75 per cent of U.S. public schools by the 2008-09 school year.
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| CBC STORIES: |
U.S. schools to become pop-free (May 3, 2006)
U.S. columnist says some Canadians 'prefer to be fat' (Sept. 28, 2005)
Sell milk, not pop, Ontario tells schools (Oct. 20, 2004)
Canadian schools to go pop-free by September (Jan. 6, 2004)
Ontario wants pop, junk food, out of schools (Nov. 25, 2003)
Alberta school chucks junk food (Nov. 5,2003)
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Guidelines for Healthy Eating
1. Enjoy a variety of foods.
2. Emphasize cereals, breads, other grain products, vegetables and fruit.
3. Choose lower-fat dairy products, leaner meats and food prepared with little or no fat.
4. Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight by enjoying regular physical activity and healthy eating.
5. Limit salt, alcohol and caffeine.
Source: Health Canada
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