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With a high rate of childhood obesity and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), the Ministry of Education is set to crack down on sugary drinks and high-fat snacks in schools, aiming to protect students’ health and learning.
The ministry has acted following previous restrictions on sugar-sweetened beverages in 2017, which allowed only water, 100 per cent fruit juice, low-fat milk and unsweetened blended drinks in government and government-assisted schools. While that policy focused mainly on beverages, the current proposal aims to extend the ban to a wider range of unhealthy food items.
Permanent Secretary Claudelle McKellar told a Joint Select Committee that the ministry is reviewing its dietary programme, including meals served through the School Nutrition Programme, and examining cafeteria policies with guidance from the Ministry of Health.
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