Lunches packed with junk food
Wednesday, September 3, 2003
* Nine out of ten schoolchildren's packed lunches are too high in saturated fat, salt and sugar, says the Food Standards Agency. Its survey of 556 home-packed lunches for children in 24 primary schools in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland found that children were getting up to twice the recommended amount of sugar, almost half of the daily recommended salt intake and high levels of saturated fats at lunchtime. The most popular items were a white bread sandwich in 87 per cent of packed lunches, followed by crisps (71 per cent), and a biscuit or chocolate bar (60 per cent). Just under half (48 per cent) had dairy items such as yoghurts or fromage frais (48 per cent), while fewer than half contained a portion of fruit.
Its survey of 556 home-packed lunches for children in 24 primary schools in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland found that children were getting up to twice the recommended amount of sugar, almost half of the daily recommended salt intake and high levels of saturated fats at lunchtime. The most popular items were a white bread sandwich in 87 per cent of packed lunches, followed by crisps (71 per cent), and a biscuit or chocolate bar (60 per cent). Just under half (48 per cent) had dairy items such as yoghurts or fromage frais (48 per cent), while fewer than half contained a portion of fruit.
Healthier lunchbox tips can be downloaded from the FSA website at www.food.gov.uk.
