Unhygienic Foodstuffs In School Canteens Should Be Discourage:

Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published September 13, 2017 | 10:35 AM

Health Experts on Wednesday urged the sale of junk food in schools canteens needs to be discouraged as it is necessary to make the future citizens healthy and fit

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Sep, 2017 ) : Health Experts on Wednesday urged the sale of junk food in schools canteens needs to be discouraged as it is necessary to make the future citizens healthy and fit.

A report aired by a private news channel said, Children nowadays prefer to eat from school canteens rather than bringing their lunch from home. The biggest concern here that junk food lures students and is harmful for the overall development of children.

There are umpteen healthy alternatives which need to be encouraged. The school authorities should make stringent rules and ensure that canteens do not sell junk food. If they do so, stiff penalty should be imposed on them.

Senior Physician Akram Durrani said it is the moral duty of teachers and parents to persuade students to opt for healthy alternatives and guide them on the ill-effects of junk food. He further said children get addicted to junk food due to its taste and do not realize its harmful effects.

It leads to obesity and other chronic illnesses. Parental guidance is needed to avoid junk food. Schools need to stop the sale of junk food in canteens and should discuss the adverse effects of junk food in the morning assembly every day, Akram Durrani added.

Another Physician Tahir Danish highlighted that Junk food consumption leads to many health problems as one serious problem caused by it is obesity among children at a very young age. Experts mentioned school environment is a critical venue for promoting and supporting healthy eating habits.

Healthier options on the menu of school canteens should be introduced. There should be restriction on availability of junk food and drinks around the school premises too, they said. Schools can fix a day in the week to provide students the food of their choice, Experts concluded.