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08/01/2004
£77m earmarked for healthier eating in schools
A scheme that gives free fruit to schoolchildren will be rolled out nationwide, Health Secretary John Reid announced today.
More than one million children already benefit from the National School Fruit Scheme (NSFS), which was set up to promote healthy eating and help tackle obesity. It has been operating in four pilot regions since April 2002 through Lottery cash provided by the New Opportunities Fund.
The government is now investing £77 million to deliver free fruit for every 4-6 year old. Around 440 million pieces of fruit will be distributed to over two million children in some 18,000 schools across England, under the plans.
A new survey shows that children who regularly eat fruit in school as part of the scheme also consume more fruit outside school. Eight in ten parents said their child often or always ate the fruit provided at school.
Dr Reid said: "We're developing action plans on food, healthy eating and physical activity and we've set the food industry a deadline to outline their commitments to reducing salt levels in their products.
"We need to give people the information they need to make healthy choices about the way they live their lives."
(gmcg)
More than one million children already benefit from the National School Fruit Scheme (NSFS), which was set up to promote healthy eating and help tackle obesity. It has been operating in four pilot regions since April 2002 through Lottery cash provided by the New Opportunities Fund.
The government is now investing £77 million to deliver free fruit for every 4-6 year old. Around 440 million pieces of fruit will be distributed to over two million children in some 18,000 schools across England, under the plans.
A new survey shows that children who regularly eat fruit in school as part of the scheme also consume more fruit outside school. Eight in ten parents said their child often or always ate the fruit provided at school.
Dr Reid said: "We're developing action plans on food, healthy eating and physical activity and we've set the food industry a deadline to outline their commitments to reducing salt levels in their products.
"We need to give people the information they need to make healthy choices about the way they live their lives."
(gmcg)
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