FREE fruit and vegetables could be introduced into Welsh schools after the European Parliament agreed to pledge more than £70 million to offer the scheme to every member state.
Labour AM for Mid and West Wales, Joyce Watson, has written to education minister, Jane Hutt, to urge the Assembly Government to consider introducing the multi-million pound healthy eating scheme in Wales. In response, the minister has said that she will be urgently seeking to meet with her Westminster colleagues to discuss the scheme.
Member states must match fund the scheme for between 25 to 50 percent of the costs. It would apply to all primary school aged children from this September.
Joyce, who aims to survey schools in her constituency on the subject, is planning to run a healthy eating campaign this year and believes that offering pupils free fruit and vegetables is a vital step to guarding children's health in later life. If introduced, the scheme could build on the Assembly Government’s successful Free School Breakfasts initiative which benefited around 40,000 young people in Wales last year.
Research shows that eating fruit and veg reduces the risk of developing serious illness, including cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.
It is also hoped the scheme could combat the rise in obesity in Wales. According to the Wales Centre for National Health, the number of overweight and obese children has increased to 22 per cent of boys and 17 per cent of girls.
Next week, Joyce will also be visiting Prendergast Community Primary School in Haverfordwest to talk to staff and pupils about what they think about the idea. The school already offers fruit to pupils and asks parents to contribute towards the costs. She also believes that the scheme will have a welcome economic impact:
"There is no doubt that eating fruit and vegetables is good for children and fostering good eating habits in young people is the key to tackling the obesity epidemic," said Joyce. "I hope Wales can be part of this excellent initiative. Sourcing these products locally will also benefit local producers and give the economy a real boost during these difficult times."
There will be a photo opportunity at Prendergast School on Monday (19 January) at 11am.
