(posted 7407 days ago)South London Press
Free fruit for schoolchildren
Jan 8 2004Schoolchildren across England are to get free fruit every day as part of a £77 million investment announced by Health Secretary John Reid.
The money will mean that all youngsters aged four to six will get a piece of fruit each day at school as part of Government efforts to promote healthy eating and tackle child obesity.
The pilot National School Fruit Scheme, run by the New Opportunities Fund, has meant that one million children are already receiving free fruit in the classroom.
Dr Reid, who was visiting Walnut Tree Walk School in Kennington in south London, which is already taking part in the scheme, said encouraging children to eat more healthily was vital if rising obesity rates were to be tackled.
"We said that every child aged four to six would be entitled to a free piece of fruit each school day, and this new funding will deliver on this commitment.
"The scheme is a key element of our efforts to combat obesity and encourage a healthier population.
"We're developing action plans on food, healthy eating and physical activity and we've set the food industry a deadline to outline their commitments to reducing salt levels in their products."
Obesity is said to be responsible for 31,000 premature deaths each year in the UK, and increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Recent figures from the Health Development Agency showed that 15% of 15-year-olds and 8.5% of six-year-olds were now classed as obese.
A survey published by the Department of Health today showed that more than a quarter of children and their families ate more fruit at home after their school joined the fruit scheme.