Over 100 NSW schools not complying with Healthy Canteen Strategy

Obesity experts have exposed a “loophole” in the system allowing school canteens deemed ‘healthy’ to stock party pies, chicken nuggets, flavoured milk and custard pies. Have your say.

More than 100 schools across NSW still have a ­canteen which does not ­comply with the state’s Healthy Canteen Strategy – more than five years after the policy was introduced.

Obesity experts say a massive loophole exists even in canteens which do comply because they can still sell ­unlimited numbers of sugary snacks without any restriction on their sale.

Under the policy, canteens must stock 75 per cent of their food as “everyday” healthy items and no more than 25 per cent of the stock can be “occasional” foods.

In reality that means that at Kearsley Public School, they are serving up party pies, sausage rolls, pizza, cheeseburgers, flavoured milk and custard tarts, which children can order on their own.

It is a similar story at Kempsey West Public where party pies are on the menu alongside chicken nuggets.

Kempsey West Public offers up party pies and chicken nuggets at the school canteen.

At Cherrybrook Technology High School, at least they have some healthy ­options on the menu but you can still buy half a litre of ­flavoured milk, Paddle Pops and muffins.

University of Sydney obesity expert Dr Nick Fuller said there was a loophole in the canteen policy.

“Occasional foods are only allowed to make up 25 per cent of the menu. These include foods such as cakes, pies, sausage rolls, pizza, chips, biscuits,” he said.

“So while the Healthy Canteen Strategy is supposed to increase the availability of healthy food and drink ­options in school canteens, unhealthy options will always be available.

“And therefore it doesn’t stop a student solely purchasing unhealthy food options.”

Cherrybrook Technology High School, where Paddle Pops and chocolate milk are on the menu.

That is the case at Kearsley Public in the Hunter. Canteen manager Catherine Crane said Ice Monys were the most popular item on the menu – a sugary ice block. She said that item was allowed to be on the menu under the policy.

“They are basically a Sunnyboy, triangular shape, they come in sour watermelon, chocolate and lemonade – it does have sugar,” Ms Crane said.

“If we have an unhealthy choice, you have got to have X amount of healthy items to offset it.”

Briony Cunningham’s kids Alice, 2, and Oliver, 5 have changed their tastes since healthy foods were introduced at school. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Of the 2218 government schools in NSW, 1655 have a canteen, of which 1488 have received a “Great Choice – Healthy School Canteen” badge.

Inner west mum Briony Cunningham said food sold occasionally at her five-year-old son Oliver Brooksby’s school, Yeo Park Infants, like sushi had changed his food preferences.

“Once upon a time he wouldn’t have touched sushi, but now he loves sashimi,” she said.

Ms Cunningham said pushing schools to sell healthy food was good because it normalised healthy options.

“Compared to what it used to be when we were back at school it is better because we never had any of those ­options,” she said.