Heart Foundation response to school food standards
Heart Foundation Medical Director, Professor Norman Sharpe, has expressed deep disappointment at the Government’s
decision to relax food standards in schools where positive progress has been made recently.
However, Professor Sharpe says he is pleased the Government will continue to support the promotion of healthy food and
nutrition in schools.
“We need to share the ethical responsibility that we have as a community to help children develop a healthier
lifestyle,” says Professor Sharpe.
The Heart Foundation is now fast-tracking the launch of the Healthy Heart Award - Schools, which is the new name for the
long running and highly successful School Food Programme established in 1994.
“When children consume nutritious food we see huge benefits in the classroom with improved learning and concentration.
Educating students towards leading healthier lifestyles is a very powerful way to change behaviour and that is why we
have chosen to put an even greater focus on this with the Healthy Heart Award,” says Professor ΐharpe.
The Heart Foundation runs the programme on contract to the Ministry of Health and has previously worked with the
Government on a number of successful school-based nutrition and physical activity programmes aimed at heart health.
In fact, more than 400 schools are currently involved in the Heart Foundation’s School Food Programme – a figure likely
to grow this year. The Foundation gave out 110 awards to schools in recognition of their achievements in 2008 alone and
since the inception of the School Food Programme, has presented 1235 awards in total.
“We will continue to run our programmes in schools and early childhood education centres (ECEs) - with Government
support - through the Healthy Heart Award. This will promote healthy eating and nutrition, as we have always done, and
we will provide this service free for the good of our children and the wider community.”
The Healthy Heart Award provides schools with resources, guidance and support to encourage healthy eating. It takes a
whole-school approach to healthy eating and is offered free to all schools and ECEs to help the school community to
identify and address a wide range of healthy eating issues.
ENDS