Food Classification System Better Than Food Police

Public health lobbyists calling on the Government to “reinstate legislation” to control school tuck shops would achieve more promoting the Food & Beverage Classification System to schools rather than mourning the loss of one sentence in a school management manual, says Katherine Rich, Chief Executive, Food and Grocery Council.

The Food and Beverage Classification System (FBCS), supported by the Ministry of Health and the Food & Grocery Council, is a way of classifying foods and beverages recommended for sale in schools and ECE services.

This voluntary scheme preserves school autonomy, and delivers expert advice to tuck shop managers who choose to use the FBCS guidelines.

Our members who are part of the scheme have worked hard to support the Ministry of Health scheme for schools, and in some cases have invested significant amounts to reformulate their products to meet the guidelines.

Calling for a law to be reinstated is also a misleading argument because it creates the impression there was a law in the first place. There was no such law. It was national administration guideline (NAG), a Ministry of Education statement of administration for schools.

The guideline was only in place for six months before its removal, so pretending this short period created a nutritional utopia is an exaggeration.

Under the same NAG, Schools are still required to provide education about good nutrition, and many are still using the Food and Beverage Classification System in their tuck shops to guide their purchasing.

This voluntary scheme is yet another example of how the food industry, Government agencies and schools can work well together for the benefit of young New Zealanders without legislative compulsion.

ENDS

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