The era of junk food in Quebec schools may be coming to an end.

A report says the Charest government is crafting legislation that would ban the sale of junk food such as chips and soft drinks in school vending machine.

The idea of banning junk food in Quebec schools was brought up Wednesday by provincial health officials during meetings in Montreal.

Junk food, including cafeteria-made poutine and hotdogs, could be forbidden in both public and private schools, according to health officials.

Current menus vary

Now, individual school boards decide whether vending machines are allowed in their schools. The boards also approve menu items served in their cafeteria.

What is actually allowed varies widely according to school boards.

The Commission Scolaire de Montréal, Montreal's largest school board, has already banned vending machines and has a dietician approve cafeteria menus.

At the same time, other Quebec school boards have signed deals with soft drink companies in exchange for sport and extracurricular activity funding.

The proposed ban comes on the heels of a study that found kids between the ages of six and 16 were malnourished from eating too much starch and sugar.