Healthy Food Options Law Needed For Children

Media Release:

Healthy Food Options Law Needed for the Health of our Children 

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) section representing 580 nurses in New Zealand working with children and young people are deeply concerned about Education Minister Anne Tolley’s decision of 5 February 2009 to remove the clause in the National Administration Guideline (5) which states ‘where food and beverages are sold on schools’ premises, to make only healthy options available’. 

As registered nurses working with children and young people we are aware of the health and social problems that arise when children and young people eat unhealthy food. “We know that two out of every five deaths each year (11,000 annually) are due to nutrition-related risk factors such as a high saturated fat intake, high salt intake, overweight and obesity and poor vegetable and fruit intake. Eating habits established as children and young people are carried into adulthood resulting in these serious health concerns,” said the Chairperson of the NZNO Nurses for Children and Young People Aotearoa Section, Tracey Bruce.

“The above clause gave schools and Boards of Trustees the opportunity to remove unhealthy food options from schools, and to provide leadership in the community about healthy food choices. By removing that clause, Minister Tolley has effectively wiped out all the work and resource done by schools and Boards of Trustees to become healthy food environments,” said Bruce

“Nurses for Children and Young People of Aotearoa strongly support the Ministry of Health Healthy Eating-Healthy Action (HEHA): Oranga Kai – Oranga Pumau plan to improve nutrition, increase physical activity and reduce obesity. The removal of the clause in NAG (5) is a serious impediment to NZ children and young people achieving Ministry of Health targets,” said Bruce.

The section encourages the reinstatement of this clause and strongly supports the government to resume its efforts to improve the nutrition of children and young people. As registered nurses we will be supporting the government in these efforts.

ENDS

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