Assembly Green light for Healthy Eating in Schools Measure - Randerson (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)

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Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire <post@cwsplibdems.org.uk>

Assembly Green light for Healthy Eating in Schools Measure - Randerson

October 15, 2008 12:00 AM
Originally published by Welsh Liberal Democrats

Jenny Randerson, Welsh Liberal Democrat health spokesperson , has today welcomed the encouraging cross-party support for her Healthy Eating in Schools Measure. Assembly Members backed Jenny Randerson's measure to go through to the next stage of the legislative process. , has today welcomed the encouraging cross-party support for her Healthy Eating in Schools Measure. Assembly Members backed Jenny Randerson's measure to go through to the next stage of the legislative process.

The Healthy Eating in Schools Measure will ensure new nutritional standards for school meals which would provide children with at least a third of their nutritional needs.

Jenny Randerson is the first backbench AM to put a forward a law under the Assembly's new powers.

Jenny Randerson said:

"I am delighted that Assembly Members have supported this proposed law that would ensure the best possible nutritional standards for our school children. Although we have some time to go until the measure becomes Welsh law, the political support is encouraging.

"The nutritional content of school meals and children's general diet has been a source of concern for some time. The last decade has seen a startling increase in childhood obesity with an estimated one in four 11 to 15 year olds overweight or obese. Poor diet choices children make now may lead to higher risks of heart attack, type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer in adulthood.

"There is growing concern for people's diets in the media, with many television programmes encouraging healthy eating and I think the message is beginning to get through. My measure will ensure that children understand and learn about food and its affect on their health and place a duty on local authorities to ensure that school meals comply with nutritional regulations.

"We have learnt the lessons form the English approach where we saw a huge drop off in the numbers having school dinners. Mine is a gradual approach that is backed up by education and information for children right through their school years.

"Feeding our children shouldn't be about putting the easiest and quickest food on their plates, it should be a vital part of feeding their appetite for learning and feeding their ability to learn."

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