Ontario schools are getting new nutrition standards for food and beverages sold there.
The provincial government is hoping that the move, due to take effect in September of 2011, will help students perform better in school.
Local public school board officials are saying they have a fair bit of work to do to implement the changes, but they had already been making some changes to food and drink that is offered in local, schools.
“We’re part way there already,” said Maggie McFadzen, the communications officer with the Upper Grand District School Board.
But, she noted, there are plenty of complications to overcome because of the diversity of the schools. All the high schools have cafeterias in Wellington County, but some are served by outside companies, and some prepare their own meals.
Vending machines are in some schools, and it others, schools offer pizza from outside the school, as well has hot dog days. Further, students can hold fundraising bake sales. All food and drink sold on school property will have to meet the new standards.
At the Wellington Catholic District School Board, Director of Education Don Drone said its high schools changed service providers in the high schools’ cafeterias about 18 months ago, so he expects to meet most of the new regulations there.
He added that there might be some vending machines in elementary schools, and products being offered in them might have to change.
The provincial government press release stated, “Those standards make it easy for schools to determine which foods they can and cannot sell. Candy, energy drinks, and fried foods are among the items that will no longer be sold in schools.
“In addition, 80 per cent of the new school menu must include products with the highest levels of essential nutrients and lowest amounts of fat, sugar and sodium. This includes fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grain breads.”
That document added, “As well, 20 per cent of the new menu may include products that have slightly higher amounts of fat, sugar, and sodium. These items include bagels and cheese.”
The province has acted because 28 per cent of Ontario children between the ages of 2 and 17 are overweight or obese – putting them at risk of diseases, including type two diabetes. Fewer than half of Ontario children from ages 12 to 19, eat the recommended daily minimum of fruits and vegetables.
The Healthy Food for Healthy Schools Act, 2008 is a part of the government’s strategy for healthy students. It also includes 20 minutes of daily activity in elementary schools and a recognition program for health-related school activities.
Then-Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne said of the new rules, "Students who eat healthy have more energy to learn. Offering nutritious food and drinks in school is a great way to support their success."
Minister of Health Promotion Margarett Best said, "A healthy mind depends on a healthy body. Students who eat right are better prepared to achieve in the classroom."
The government has some financial reasons for enforcing better nutrition on students.
Obesity costs the Ontario health care system approximately $1.6-billion annually.
The introduction of the new nutrition standards now provides schools with the time they need to make the transition by September 2011.
Five other provinces that have mandatory nutrition standards in schools. They are British Columbia, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland.
According to the Journal of School Health, students who ate healthy – and reduced their fat intake – perform better at school.
McFadzen said one victim of the change will be many unhealthy, packaged foods that are currently sold.
“The whole idea is packaged products are a problem – unless you read the label.”
She said supplies to local high schools will be affected by the changes, but Trios, which does the catering for Centre Wellington District Secondary School, and Chartioels, a large food network contracted to supply Norwell District Secondary School in Palmerston, Wellington Heights District Secondary School in Mount Forest, had been working with restrictions on the food they can sell for several years.
The new laws will simply tighten those restrictions even further.
In Erin, things are different again, because that high school supplies its own food. At CWDHS in Fergus, there is currently a food school in place teaching students healthy foods and supplying goods for sale, and McFadzen said that school will also have to abide by the province’s new rules.
