THE Government faces a major challenge in promoting healthy eating among schoolchildren, with unhealthy food options continuing to be sold outside school boundaries despite a policy governing what canteens sell inside schools.
Minister for Health Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu said the Government had a healthy school canteen policy aimed at ensuring students were offered healthier food choices, but acknowledged that its reach was limited once children left school grounds.
“But outside of the school boundary, that’s where unhealthy things are sold,” Dr Lalabalavu said.
He said monitoring school canteens was primarily the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, rather than the Ministry of Health, adding his ministry got involved when there were concerns over food contamination or food-borne disease outbreaks.
“Now, if anything, like if any issue to do with food contamination or any food disease outbreak, then we come in and do the inspection.”
He said food preparation facilities also had to meet required standards before being endorsed.
However, Dr Lalabalavu said the Health Ministry was willing to assist the Education Ministry with monitoring if requested.
