LATVIA: No more junk food in school!

For few past years doctors and nutritionists have been warning about a rise in the number of overweight children in Latvia. There has also been an increasing awareness of the medical costs associated with obesity. In July, former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright made a personal appeal on behalf of Atlanta-based Coca-Cola to President Vaira Vike-Freiberga expressing concern with the regulation. Albright now heads a group that brokers agreements between governments and businesses. Vike-Freiberga, however, responded by saying she supported the ban, since children are unable to gauge the harmful impact that junk food has on their health. Selling junk food in schools sets a bad example. It gives a sense that junk food is endorsed by authorities. It sends a very clear message that governments should establish a healthy environment in schools. Banned products include soft drinks such as Coca-Cola, potato chips, candy and foodstuffs containing artificial colourings or flavourings. As part of the plan to improve children’s overall diet, it would also promote consumption of milk, juice, fruit, berries and unsalted nuts in all public schools. Recently Britain’s Health Department issued a report claiming nearly one-third of all British men will be obese by 2010. Nearly a quarter of British adults are already obese, the report shows. Latvia will become the first EU country to implement a total ban on junk food sales in public schools on November. Some countries have taken partial measures to tackle the problem, such as France, which last year banned all vending machines from its state schools.