Call For School Canteen Food Standards Policy

The Territory Opposition have applauded news that the Victorian Government will introduce mandatory guidelines on healthy eating in school canteens in that state.

"The Victorian initiative closely resembles the CLP School Canteen Food Standards Policy released in August this year,” says Terry Mills, Opposition Shadow for Employment, Education and Training.

"It's time the Martin Government demonstrated a similar concern for the health of our kids and adopted my policy in Territory schools. The time for procrastination is long past.

"Our kids are getting fatter, not fitter by the day and we need practical measures to combat the obesity plague.

"Fresh, nutritious food is an excellent place to begin turning around this growing health problem.

"Unfortunately the Martin Government is a follower not a leader in policy matters. Rather than thinking for itself the Martin Government habitually waits until the southern states implement a policy before it is even considered here.

"Almost a quarter of our young Territorians are either overweight or obese.

"Too many of our young people are not getting enough exercise, eating the wrong foods and putting their futures in real jeopardy.

"School canteen food standards are a commonsense policy initiative.

"For simplicity and ease it is tempting to sell packaged food, but that is not what our kids need, they need fresh and healthy food to allow them to be healthy and active.

"As part of supporting parents, school councils and canteens, an extensive education program will target the different stakeholders. Parents would receive education packs on the importance of healthy food and assistance with the nutritional content of food at the canteen. This would be combined with class health education activities.”

2006-10-16