EU strives for higher fruit consumption, less obesity in schools
European Parliament has approved a new draft law to merge the EU-wide school fruit and vegetable scheme with a similar milk provision program. 
The two schemes have historically operated independently under separate budgets and under the draft law, the combined annual budget will be increased by €€20 million (US$21.9 million) to €€250 million (US$275 million).
Fruit and vegetable consumption continues to fall across member states whilst more than 20 million EU children are overweight and on average adolescents eat only 30% to 50% of the recommended daily intake of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Referring to the drop in fruit, vegetable and milk consumption, MEP Marc Tarabella, who steered the legislation through Parliament on Tuesday (March 8), says the focus will be on educating schoolchildren about food origins, organic farming, fighting food waste and encouraging healthy eating as well as ‘reconnecting’ kids with agriculture.
“"A healthy balanced diet is the foundation of good health, but the consumption of fruit and vegetables and milk has been declining across the EU",” he says.
"This is why it is of utmost importance to strengthen the school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme by increasing its budget and making it more focused on healthy-eating education.”
“"Parliament also ensured the programme’s financial stability, by preventing member states from cutting its budget unilaterally or changing the criteria for allocating EU funds among themselves.”"
MEPs also ensured EU funds will be shared more fairly among member states by setting two core criteria for the distribution of cash. These relate to the amount of six to ten-year-old in the population and the degree of development in the country.
The list of eligible products for EU funding has been amended to give priority to under-consumed fresh and local products over and above processed products likes soups, compotes, juice, yoghurt and cheese.
All member states excluding Finland, Sweden and the U.K. (which have their own schemes) participate in the EU fruit scheme which was first introduced in 2009.
The new rules should apply from August 2017.
Photo: www.shutterstock.com
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