Unhealthy food ban a surprise say principals
Page 1 of 2 1:00PM Monday June 11, 2007
Schools are no longer allowed to offer unhealthy options for sale.
Government moves to get schools to sell only healthy foods have come as a complete surprise, principals said today.
Changes to school regulations, the National Administration Guidelines, are to be announced today.
It is expected that sales of food and drink with high fat, sugar and salt content would either not be allowed, or be restricted, on school premises.
Education Minister Steve Maharey today said the changes were part of the health Mission On programme and the guidelines had been discussed for months before being confirmed today.
But New Zealand Principals Federation president Judy Hanna said the move had not been well signalled.
"Principals don't know about it yet -- it's arriving today in their mailout," she said today.
"It wasn't a well-signalled move at all."
Ms Hanna said the government had put a lot of money into the Mission On programme, which promoted healthy eating in schools.
"We don't have a problem with that - there is a problem with obese children. But this is a National Administration Guideline which is a compliance.
"It says schools, where they sell food and drink, may only offer healthy options. The way it is stated, there is no room for interpretation, no room movement."
Mr Maharey said today most schools had been preparing for the changes and he had had no complaints.
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