NSW school canteen companies will be forced to sell healthy food in a state government crackdown
For-profit canteen companies still sell sugary and fatty foods in 108 public schools across the state, in contravention of a ban on junk food. But a state government crackdown intends to whip them into shape.
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School canteens still serving junk food will be whipped into shape by a state government crackdown.
For-profit canteen companies still sell sugary and fatty foods in 108 public schools across the state, in contravention of a ban on junk food.
The state government will change its licensee agreements with all 108 tuckshop providers, forcing them to swap pies, pasties and sausage rolls for sushi, sandwiches and fruit-juice slushies.
Public schools were required to transition to the NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy over a three-year period by 2019.
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The new canteen licence agreements will require for-profit providers to demonstrate compliance by the end of July.
“The change won’t result in less canteens but will empower schools and provide resources to help them become healthier,” Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said.
“Most schools have proactively taken it up and passed their Menu Check but there is more to do.”
A further 252 canteens run by school staff and parent groups still sell junk food.
The community-run canteens that have failed the grade will be visited by government bureaucrats to help them usher in healthier menus.
“Some of the barriers are perceived budget restraints, loss of sales or the facilities of the canteen,” she said.
“I want to help these remaining schools provide healthier food options to their students.”
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In NSW in 2018, more than one in five children aged 5–16 years were overweight or obese.
That means about 270,000 NSW children were above a healthy weight, according to the NSW Ministry of Health.
These children are more likely to carry excess weight into adulthood and are at increased risk of chronic disease, such as diabetes and heart disease, in later life as well as premature mortality.
The government hopes healthier canteens will reduce childhood obesity rates by 5 per cent by 2025.
Bossley Park Public School parent and canteen manager Juanita Da Pra did not think she could turn a profit selling celery sticks to fussy kids.
But, now, she says she was wrong.
Once students realised their cries for the return of honey soy chicken potato crisps had fallen on deaf ears, they just starting buying healthier snacks instead.
“Kids will spend whatever money they are given for the canteen, so if there’s only healthy options then that’s what they’ll buy,” Ms Da Pra said.
“Our canteen made a profit last year, even though we weren’t selling boxes and boxes of chips like we used to.
“Most parents give their kids food at home they shouldn’t eat, so at least the kids are getting something healthy to eat at school.”
Sushi was the only healthy option Bossley Park Public School students turned their noses up at.
The school used to host two “red light” days a term, when high-energy, high-fat and low-fibre food flew off the shelves, such as soft drinks, Krispy Kreme doughnuts and lolly bags.
The canteen staff have managed to build similar hype and sales for special, healthy offers like chicken and salad wraps.