WA government takes action against junk food in schools

WA bans fatty food in state schools

Posted: 07 December 2006

Source:  The Age, December 3, 2006

Deep fried foods, pastries and soft drinks will be banned from West Australian public schools as part of the state government's fight against what it calls an "obesity epidemic" among young people.

Launching the new nutritional guidelines for school canteens, Premier Alan Carpenter also said students from year one to 10 would have to take part in at least two hours of physical activity per week during school time.

"We've got an obesity problem, an epidemic of obesity among young people in Western Australia ... and we want to do something about it," Mr Carpenter said.

"First of all healthier foods in school canteens - sugary drinks, fried foods off; healthy foods, stuff that's good to eat, tastes good, very much encouraged.

"And then two hours of physical exercise in the school week every week, so we have children that are eating more healthily and they are exercising more regularly."

An ongoing study involving the University of Western Australia shows one in five primary school children in WA are overweight or obese, with children as young as six presenting with diabetes, high blood pressure and liver problems.

Under the plan, school canteens will use a "traffic light" system, with foods designated as red, green or amber.

Red foods such as confectionary, fried foods and cakes will be banned, green foods such as vegetables, fruit and lean meats are encouraged and amber foods such as breakfast cereals and low-fat dairy products are to be consumed in moderation.

The announcement brings WA into line with other states, such as NSW and Victoria, which have banned sweetened soft drinks and fatty foods at school canteens.

Mr Carpenter said the guidelines would be obligatory and had the support of the Parents and Citizens' Associations, which run many school canteens, and the Western Australian School Canteens Association (WASCA).

WASCA executive officer Robin Bromley said obesity among young people needs to be turned around to avoid massive health costs in the future.

"This is about the health of the future of the country because these young people are our future politicians, they are our future mothers, fathers, etcetera," Ms Bromley said.

"I don't think there's anything more important than healthy kids, quite frankly."

Ms Bromley conceded schools could lose up to $30,000 in profits from selling sweet and fatty foods but countered, "Do we put profit before our kids' health?"

The government hopes to put the new system in place by the middle of next year, with one million dollars in funding to help schools adapt.