Why has the Government implemented further bans for school canteens?
The incidence of obesity in children and young people in Australia has increased dramatically in recent years, with 1 in 4 children overweight or obese. This has serious long- and short-term health consequences. Excess weight gain in children is usually a result of eating too much food or the wrong type of food, combined with low energy expenditure – doing too little physical activity or being inactive for too much of the day. School canteens play an important role in the provision of food to students and the school community as well as being an integral part of the school environment. The school canteen should reflect the educational goals of the school and support and complement student learning. When it is used daily, the food provided through the school canteen may comprise a third of a student’s total daily intake and have a significant influence on their health and nutrition.
