Free Fruit for School Kids

The European Commission has proposed to tackle obesity by establishing an EU-wide scheme to provide free fruit and vegetables to school children from 2009/2010.

European funds worth €90 million every year would pay for the purchase and distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables to schools. This money would be matched by national funds in those Member States which chose to make use of the programme.

This is the latest stage in the Commission's efforts to improve health and nutrition.

The School Fruit Scheme aims to encourage good eating habits in young people, as studies show th at healthy eating habits are formed in childhood. People who eat a lot of fruit and vegetables in childhood continue to eat healthily in adulthood. Those who eat little tend not to change their ways and also pass on their habits to their own children.

Research has also shown that families with a lower level of income tend to consume less fruit and vegetables. As such, the free provision in schools of these healthy products can make a real difference, particularly in underprivileged areas.

An estimated 22m children in the EU are overweight . More than 5m these are obese and this figure is expected to rise by 400,000 every year. Improved nutrition can play an important part in combating this problem.

The proposal will now be sent to the Council and European Parliament.

Information and documents on the School Fruit Scheme are available on internet at: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/markets/fruitveg/sfs/index_en.htm

Posted Thursday 14th July 2008