Citation
(2006), "National Conference on Healthy Vending", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 36 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2006.01736aab.023
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
National Conference on Healthy Vending
National Conference on Healthy Vending
2 November 2005
Concern over vending practices in schools has prompted a national conference to be held at the East of England Showground in Peterborough on Wednesday, 2 November, entitled “Healthy Vending in Schools”. The event was hosted jointly by the Department of Health and the Health Education Trust (HET) and aimed to demonstrate healthy vending practices that are commercially viable for schools.
The rapid rise in obesity in young people is caused by eating and drinking too much of the wrong foods and drinks, combined with a decline in levels of activity. The Government’s “Choosing a better diet: a food and health action plan” committed to bring into force new statutory requirements to cover food across the whole school day by September 2006. Right now the School Meals Review Panel (SMRP), set up by Ruth Kelly to “transform” the school meals service, is due to give their findings – they are likely to be far reaching.
For many years, vending in secondary schools has been dominated by the confectionary and soft drinks industry. Whenever the morality of this has been challenged, the response has focused on the revenue vending provided for the school with too little concern for children’s health and nutrition.
For further information on the national healthy vending conference, visit www.healthedtrust.com/pages/events.htm
HET is the UK registered charity, dedicated to initiating and supporting work with children and young adults to encourage the growth of healthy lifestyles. Operated by independent professionals with expertise in health education, education, nutrition and dietetics, HET strives to provide common sense approaches to government policies and delivers practical and realistic advice and solutions on topical food, health and education issues. HET pioneered the whole school approach and is now leading the way on healthier approaches to school vending.