Canteen owners violate school canteen policy

by Carol Aloysius

Managers and owners of school canteens have failed to adhere to the Schools' Canteen Policy of the Health Ministry to ensure that students have healthy meals to avoid early non communicable diseases (NCDs), said a spokesman for the Public Health Inspectors Union All Island. "Unfortunately we can't take action against them as this is only a policy and not a legal document", Vice Secretary of the Sri Lanka Public Health Union All Island C.S. Mutugoda, told the Sunday Observer.

Recent school health inspections had revealed that NCDs were on the increase among students in all parts of the island. "Many students eat almost all their main meals in school canteens as parents don't give them meals cooked at home. Canteen owners have a responsibility to serve children food that is low in starch and sodium to avoid developing early diabetes, hypertension and heart disease", he said.

School authorities should give specific instructions regarding the Canteen Policy when calling for tenders from canteen owners. "The Health Ministry in its policy has clearly stated that artificial and carbonated drinks, cakes, chocolates, boiled sweets and oily foods should not be served in school canteens.