Comment from The Organic Food and Produce Company
Childhood obesity is a major issue for all of us in Australia. Unless we start to change the eating habits of the future generation, we will have a major health care issue to deal with in the future. Junk foods in schools is no help at all, and somehow we need to encourage more consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables in our children's diet. So take control and pack your kids off with their own lunches, and healthy fresh organic produce. Hopefully in the longer term the schools themselves will begin to serve more fresh, organic produce as well!

Aussie canteens 'need Jamie Oliver'

Source: Sydney Morning Herald
July 5, 2005

Australian school canteens need a Jamie Oliver-style overhaul to help prevent a child obesity epidemic, nutrition experts say.

Deakin University researchers Dr Colin Bell and Professor Boyd Swinburn say school canteens are still predominantly offering fast foods, confectionery and packaged snacks that promote unhealthy weight gain. In an article in the Medical Journal of Australia, they say such food and drinks not only undermine a school's health and nutrition program, but create the impression they can be eaten every day.

"If we are serious about the childhood obesity epidemic, school canteens are a good place to start, because they carry a symbolism that ripples into the Australian diet far beyond the contribution to energy intake," they wrote.

The researchers applauded the new canteen models recently introduced in NSW and South Australia, which they said had already had positive results and could be rolled out nationally. In NSW it is mandatory for state schools to provide food and drinks consistent with the Australian guide to healthy eating, while in South Australia government backing of healthy eating guidelines encourages links between the canteen, community and nutrition education.

But Dr Bell said any overhaul of the canteen system must be supported by state governments with increased funding and resources. He said he would welcome a campaign similar to that undertaken by British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver to improve school dinners, in Australia. Oliver successfully lobbied the British government to increase funding for state school canteens following a television documentary series on school catering. The series, Jamie's School Dinners, showed how Oliver persuaded schoolchildren to abandon a fatty diet of burgers and chips in favour of healthier food made from fresh ingredients.

"That would be great. It would be most welcome," Dr Bell said. "I think it's exciting that somebody like Jamie Oliver ... has used his celebrity to do something about (canteen food). The more that happens the better. I think it's really a message for governments to band together and support schools in the way that appears to be happening in NSW."

Dr Bell said a survey last year of 18 Victorian primary schools showed that 27 per cent of students were overweight or obese. In some age groups, the percentage was higher, he said.