New laws to limit fried foods
Smell of chips may disappear from canteens
Published:
The smell of freshly-fried chips wafting from the canteen could become a thing of the past under new legislation being introduced in schools throughout the country.
Chip-free days are one of 26 health-boosting recommendations to be considered by councillors at a meeting to be held on Thursday.
In a report to go before Aberdeenshire Council’s scrutiny and audit committee, director of planning and environmental services Christine Gore says the changes will be brought in following the introduction of the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) Scotland Act 2007.
She says the authority is “well placed” to cope with the demands but acknowledges the legislation “raises these standards to a new level”.
Under the new rules, no confectionery will be on sale, and only a small number of savoury snacks such as crisps will be available.
Fried food will be served up a maximum of three times a week and chips will only be available as part of a meal.
There will also be a restricted number of flavoured drinks on the shelves.
Mrs Gore said staff had been working to gradually introduce the changes over the past two years by having chip-free and cheese-free days and reducing the number of unhealthy snacks on sale.
The planning boss accepts the service may be less appealing to pupils, and sales could suffer.
“Despite these measures, we anticipate a reduction in sales in August, so pupils and staff will be targeted with information and publicity to promote the benefits of the menu changes in an effort to mitigate a downturn in business,” she says.
In addition to changing the canteen menus, the new legislation covers a wide range of areas such as improving the food available in vending machines, adopting “a whole school approach” to food and nutrition, better marketing of school food and sourcing ingredients locally.
Last night Ben McKendrick, policy and public affairs manager at British Heart Foundation Scotland, said the changes were a positive step.
