SRI LANKA BANS JUNK FOODS IN ALL SCHOOLS- Unhealthy food brands have also been banned from sponsoring school events
Sri Lanka has announced the ban of junk food in schools in a bid to promote healthier eating habits among students, and unhealthy food brands have also been banned from sponsoring school events
A wide range of popular foods like burgers, donuts, pizza, hotdogs, instant noodles, icecream, energy and carbonated drinks and condiments like processed tomato sauce have been removed from school menus
Guidelines issued by the education ministry which prohibit schools from selling or distributing foods containing high levels of sugar and fat are now being implemented by the public health inspectors, as the policy aims to reduce children’s consumption of foods high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats.
The ministry had stated earlier this week that the poor eating habits among the children is directly contributing to the increase in nutritional problems and the latter rising incidence of diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer in the country..
The government now encourages the students to eat rice, fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, eggs, natural fruit juice, fresh milk and tea with only small quantities of sugar, with the provided recipes for “healthy and highly nutritious” menus prepared with locally available ingredients.
