Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Equal access for fruit juice
Fruit juice, low kilojoule milk and water need to be as accessible as soft drinks, says Suzi Penny, a nutritional
biochemist at the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health.
She welcomes the move by drink manufacturers to voluntarily withdraw soft drinks and drinks with added sugar from
secondary schools.
However she is not in favour of a ban on sugary drinks but says it’s important that healthy alternatives are readily
available.
“While it’s great to get sugar-laden fizzy and energy drinks out of schools, children need equal access to healthier
choices like fruit juice, milk and water."
Soft drinks are empty food, with no nutrients, she says.
“Life is a performance, and you cannot perform well on empty foods. Filling up with artificially flavoured and coloured
drinks may satisfy the senses, but it is like cheating your body.
“Though fruit juices can be high in kilojoules, they also provide other nutrients. In fact, you are better off having an
orange."
She is not in favour of banning unhealthy choices, but of setting limits on their marketing and promotion.
“It’s not about being a nanny state, that can be counter-productive. It’s about education and promoting healthy
choices."
Flavoured drinks should be seen as ‘treat’ beverages rather than as dietary staple drinks.
ENDS