Changes in the way WA schools promote healthy eating for children have raised concerns that junk food, such as chips, soft drinks and candy, may return to school canteen menus.
The Department of Health recently awarded a $ 3.7 million contract to the Victoria-based organization, Nutrition Australia, to provide a “school-wide healthy eating program,” wasting the Association of Health. WA school canteens, which has implemented the state government’s healthy food and beverage policy in schools. last 15 years.
While the new program is expected to continue with a system of traffic lights categorizing food options as green for nutritious, amber for casual or red for junk, there is fear that the new supplier will change the criteria for WA.
“At the school level, this could mean that our children’s health is affected because we could have some unhealthy items entering schools that are not currently there,” said WASCA Executive Director Megan Sauzier.
“The traffic light system is a little different from Victoria. Red foods, for example, which are soft drinks, candies and chips, have been off the menu at WA and have been off the menu since 2007, while in Victoria they are allowed to eat red food twice a quarter. “
Nutrition Australia has yet to disclose all the details of its approach, but insists there would be no immediate changes to the WA traffic light criteria.
“We will implement the criteria that the WA government wants us to implement,” said Margaret Rozman, director of Nutrition Australia’s Victory Healthy Eating Services program.
Sauzier said the decision not to take into account WASCA’s excellent track record and experience in awarding the tender to an interstate organization meant its funding had been reduced by 41 percent, significantly reducing its funding. ability to support schools and evaluate their dining menus.
“We are looking forward to seeing what develops… But until this service is installed, we are not sure how it will be and there is likely to be a gap in the services that schools are used to receiving,” he said. . “Anything that increases the load on school or canteen staff is likely to have a negative effect.”
Pania Turner, chair of the WA State Board of School Organizations, the highest body of P&C groups that operate most school canteens, has written to Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson and the director general of the Department of Health. David Russell-Weisz, to express his “disappointment at the lack of consultations,” adding, “I’m concerned that support for building healthy food cultures in school communities is less.”
Ms. Turner said canteens were an important school service. “It is vital that they have access to expert support from people who understand WA schools and the complexities that arise from canteen management, which are largely occupied by volunteers,” he said.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said it conducted an open and competitive bidding process to select a program provider in accordance with the WA government’s procurement policy to implement a new comprehensive healthy eating program for all WA schools, public and private.
“A new website for schools will be delivered with resources, curriculum materials, online training and an online recipe and menu evaluation tool FoodChecker, as well as telephone, electronic and face-to-face support for all school staff and from the dining room, ”he said. .
“Quarters 3 and 4 are a transition phase, while the new program will be fully implemented at the start of the 2023 school year.”
The spokeswoman said supporting Western Australians to stop rising obesity levels was a key priority for the department.
“Helping children establish healthy eating habits while in school is an essential part of the concerted effort to help the entire WA community achieve this goal,” he said.
The Department of Education said the provider should support schools to enact the requirements for healthy eating and drinking procedures in public schools.