Praneeta Prakash 
Minister for Health, Doctor Atonio Lalabalavu says there is a need for stricter enforcement of healthy food policies in schools.
Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu says prohibition on the sale of unhealthy food in school canteens remains.
The clarification came in the wake of the increasing number of non-communicable diseases among children.
Dr Lalabalavu said there was a need for stricter enforcement of the healthy food policy in schools, and there needed to be some sort of control on food sold outside of schools.
“The policy covers what’s being sold within the premises of a school, but outside of a school that’s something that we have no jurisdiction on it when it comes to giving out fines or notices to those people. But look, it’s something the school will have to consider.”
Dr Lalabalavu said while the Ministry continued to work with the Education Ministry in terms of monitoring, compliance remained a concern.
“Well, if it’s sold within the school, then part of the policy is that a school should have regular monitoring, and probably they just need to beef that up in the monitoring capacity.”
While food and school canteen policy was implemented in 2017, its enforcement remains challenging.
The Education Ministry’s website clearly outlines the list of prohibited and approved food items and beverages.
According to the list, some of the items that are prohibited include deep-fried foods, savoury snacks, sweets, homemade sweets, sugar-sweetened drinks, and fizzy drinks, while approved food items include boiled or baked root crops, in-season fruit, in-season nuts, milk, water and sugar-free drinks.
