The prohibition of sales of food, drinks and snacks containing artificial additives such as colouring and flavouring agents, preservatives, amino-acids and caffeine, entered into force to sell in Latvian public schools on 1 November 2006. This ban, voted by the Latvian government on 23 August 2006 as part of the country's drive to improve children's diets, also covers foods containing excessive levels of salt and sugar.
School shops and cafeterias will therefore no longer be able to sell sodas and confectionary or salted crisps. However, pupils can still bring and eat them in school but teachers are asked to encorage them to not to do so. The prohibited products will be replaced with "healthy alternatives" such as dried fruit, unsalted nuts, unsweetened fruit juice, wholegrain snacks, mineral water and milk.
Latvia's move illustrates current pressure on the soft drink and snack industry to restrict the availability of their products to children. In a similar trend, French authorities are removing vending machines from their schools. Industry does not believe that banning the sale of these products is the right way to promote a healthy diet and, instead, suggests more information and education on a balanced diet.
As childhood reaches worrying proportions in many countries, the EU Platform for action on diet, physical activity and health is developing recommendations for solutions on, for example, how to motivate young people towards healthy lifestyles.
Commissioner Kyprianou will, on 9 November 2006, publicly 'name and praise' companies who show a commitment to tackling obesity.
