The Ministry of Health has issued a new circular banning the sale of high-sugar, high-fat and processed food items, including hot dogs, burgers, pizzas, biscuits, cakes, carbonated drinks, extruded snacks and packaged beverages, in school canteens.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Health Promotion Bureau, Nutrition Division Specialist Dr Monika Wijerathne said a guideline handbook has also been introduced to regulate and monitor school canteens.
Health authorities said the move comes amid rising rates of overweight and obesity among schoolchildren. According to the 2024 Global School-based Student Health Survey, 12% of children aged 13 to 17 are overweight, while 3% are obese.
The survey also found that 17.4% of children regularly consume carbonated drinks, 28.5% consume foods high in salt, 29% consume high-fat foods and 41% consume foods high in sugar.
Officials stressed that effective regulation and monitoring of school canteens are essential to improving the health and nutrition of schoolchildren. (NewsWire)