Why are soft drinks and confectionery not allowed to be sold in school canteens and vending machines?
Soft drink and confectionery are energy dense, nutrient poor foods and fit into the Occasionally (Red) end of the spectrum. They are not required for good health and development and furthermore, have been linked to poor dental health and increased risk of overweight and obesity. In recent years there has been a more than 50% increase in the prevalence of dental decay among South Australian children. This is similar to other states in Australia. Reasons for this increase in dental caries include changed diets (including increased sugar consumption), increased use of low fluoride toothpastes, and increased drinking of non fluoridated water. Confectionery tends to stick to teeth when it is chewed or sucked and results in sugar being in the mouth for extended periods of time. Bacteria in the mouth convert this sugar to acid which attacks the tooth enamel, breaking it down and so causing tooth decay. Consumption of soft drink has been increasing steadily over the past two decades and there
Related Questions
- My child’s school has vending machines – are the foods sold in these machines subject to the same regulations as school meals?
- Why are soft drinks and confectionery not allowed to be sold in school canteens and vending machines?
- Are school vending machines offering healthier snacks rather than crisps, chocolates and fizzy drinks?
