Free fruit in schools scheme fails to change eating habits
The free fruit and vegetable scheme in maintained primary schools and nurseries has failed to make a sustained impact on children's fruit and vegetable consumption, a long-term evaluation has concluded.
Researchers from the University of Leeds and the National Foundation for Educational Research noted a significant increase in average fruit and vegetable consumption over the past two years, with 44 per cent of children eating five portions a day in 2006, compared with 27 per cent in 2004.
But they said the schools scheme, introduced in 2004, was unlikely to be an important factor in the increase because it provides mainly fruit, while the increase is mainly in vegetables.
As with an earlier study (News, 19 July), the researchers found that fruit and vegetable consumption dropped between Year 2 and Year 3, when pupils are no longer eligible for the scheme.
The study looked at the impact of the scheme on 1,666 children from 38 schools in the north-east. It attributed the overall rise in fruit and vegetable intake to improvements in school dinners.
But children continued to eat unhealthy snacks as well, suggesting the fruit and vegetable scheme is ineffective as a means of combating child obesity.
Project director Sandie Shagen said, 'The increase in vegetable consumption was particularly interesting. When we analysed this further we found children eating school dinners had a much higher vegetable intake than children eating packed lunches.'
The study also found that children taking packed lunches had more fruit, juice and snacks, while those having school dinners ate significantly fewer snacks and desserts.
The report, Further Evaluation of the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme, is available at www.doh.gov.uk.
