Amendments to the Public Schools Act requiring food and nutrition policies for schools and banning the sale of foods with high levels of trans fats have been proclaimed, Education, Citizenship and Youth Minister Peter Bjornson and Healthy Living Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross announced.
“Teaching children to make healthy food choices when they are young helps them build healthy lives,” said Bjornson. “This legislation will ensure schools give Manitoba children and youth the support they need to make positive choices and support their health.”
Under the legislation, school boards are required to make sure artificial trans fats are not contained in packaged foods or other food products a school sells or distributes to students.
Other rules around trans fat content in foods include:
• vegetable oil or spreadable margarine used in the preparation of foods at a school must not exceed two per cent of the product’s total fat content; and
• the trans-fat content of other foods, excluding meat or dairy products, must not exceed five per cent of the food’s total fat content.
Exceptions will be made for special circumstances, such as a student’s lunch brought from home, school bake sales, hot dog days or pizza lunches if the food items are not available in the school every day.
“The Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures Task Force was told about the unhealthy food and beverage choices that confront children, young people and families on a daily basis,” said Irvin-Ross. “Promoting healthy food choices in schools and reducing the availability of unhealthy foods will support our young people.”
The legislation also requires a school’s advisory council or local school committee to review food and nutrition policies at least once a year. As well, actions to implement the policies will be reported in the school’s annual plan.
The legislative changes were made after consultations with school divisions and was proclaimed on September 1, 2009.
