US$ 130 Million European Union Budget to Feed Fruits and Vegetables to Obese Kids
For a continent that has more than 22 million of its kids overweight or obese, fighting obesity may require concerted efforts of both parents and national governments within the European Union.
And the Europeans are ready to spend US$ 130 million annually to enliven the old adage - an apple a day keeps the doctor away - as well as improve their carbon footprint by promoting greener consumption.
But Europe is also grappling with weight as a serious health issue and now a strategy to fight obesity in kids is being pushed through European parliament to provide free fresh fruits and vegetables to school children.
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The School Fruit Scheme, as set out in the ‘Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity and Related Health Issues’, will commit European funds worth €90 million, the equivalent of US$ 130 million, per year to pay for the purchase and distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables to schools.
Governments of member states will have to match these funds on enrolling with the program in line with European Commission’s efforts to improve health and nutrition.
The School Fruit Scheme aims to encourage good eating habits in young people, which studies show tend to be carried on into later life.
Besides providing free fruit and vegetables, the scheme would require participating member states to set up national strategies including educational and awareness-raising initiatives and the sharing of best practice.
Improved nutrition can play an important part in combating the problem of obesity, says Mariann Fischer Boel, the commissioner pushing the proposal through EU parliament.
European nutrition experts agree that consumption of sufficient amounts of fruit and vegetables is key to a healthy diet and can play an integral role in reducing obesity rates - 400,000 new cases each year - and cutting the risk of serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes in later life.
The free fruits program is justified by previous research and studies that have shown that families with a lower level of income tend to consume less fruit and vegetables. It is therefore expected that the free provision in schools can make a real difference, particularly in underprivileged areas.
Image credits: Cutup and Wizan at Flickr under a Creative Commons license.
