Schools take fizz out of tuckshop

BUNDABERG schools is set to be less sweet, with Pepsico announcing it will be taking its products off tuckshop shelves in a bid to encourage healthy lifestyles.

Lining up for some healthy food are (from left) Uvin Seneviratne, Charlie Cummings, Joel Pearson, Amjad Aslam, Ella Cummings, Emily Shiels and Shayne Tobias, greeted by tuckshop convenor Merle Finnis. Picture: Mike Knott

THE future of Bundaberg schools is set to be a little less sweet, with Pepsico announcing it will be taking its products off tuckshop shelves in a bid to encourage healthy lifestyles.

The soft-drink giant is hoping to lead the pack and is encouraging similar companies to follow suit.

Diabetes Queensland policy manager Peter Anderson has applauded the decision, saying others should fall in with Pepsico.

“We hope that by making the healthy choice the easy choice in these areas, people will be able to improve their health and minimise their risk of developing chronic conditions such as diabetes,” he said.

St Luke’s Anglican College tuckshop convener Merle Finnis said the school had already switched to healthy foods with great success.

“We got rid of most junk foods at the end of 2008 and it has been great,” she said.

“The kids were a little bit hesitant at first, but now they don’t have a problem.”

The tuckshop no longer sells soft drinks or junk food and has a selection of juices, milks, iced teas and 99% apple juice slushies on offer instead.

They also serve sushi, Vietnamese spring rolls, salad sandwiches and rolls, and quiches with salad.

Mrs Finnis said students were always keen to try something new.

“The sushi is a big hit. They are buying it faster than we can make it,” she said.

“We make everything fresh here and we sell out of it all every day.”

Mrs Finnis said she was looking forward to next Tuesday when she would head to Nambour to speak to Chef Laurent, who won the tuckshop of the year award recently.

“I’m hoping to get some new ideas down there,” she said.

The tuckshop convener said she was glad to see Pepsico setting an example.

“It’s definitely about time,” she said.

“Taking away that unhealthy food makes a big difference.

“The kids are even better behaved after lunch because they aren’t so full of sugar.”

Pepsico also plans to reduce 25% of sodium per serving by 2015, reduce 15% of saturated fat per serving by 2020, and cut 25% of the average added sugar per serving in key global beverage brands by 2020.

Originally published as Schools take fizz out of tuckshop