More funds for fruit scheme

The European Union has increased Malta's share of funds for a scheme to provide fruit and vegetables to all primary schools from next September.

The island will now receive €226,000 for the first year of this three-year scheme, up from the original €175,000, following a re-calculation of the number of EU member states taking part.

Under this EU initiative, from the next scholastic year all Maltese children attending state, Church and private schools will be given fresh fruit and vegetables to eat and will be learning about the need for a healthy and balanced diet.

Although the EU's School Fruit Scheme stipulates that the children should be given a portion of fruit and vegetables every week, Malta will be taking it further. The Rural Affairs and Resources Ministry, which is coordinating the scheme here, said the government had decided to invest €1.2 million of this year's budget to be able to give away free fresh fruit and vegetables to the children every day.

This will be accompanied by a massive information and educational campaign in a bid to wean Malta's younger generation - which rates high in obesity compared to other countries -onto a healthier diet.

The scheme is also expected to benefit the agricultural community as the fresh produce will be sourced from local farmers.

EU experts agree that a healthy diet can play an integral role in reducing obesity rates and cutting the risk of serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes in later life. Key to this is the consumption of sufficient amounts of fruit and vegetables.

The World Health Organisation recommends a minimum daily net intake of 400 grammes of fruit and vegetables per person. The majority of Europeans fail to meet this target and the downward trend is particularly evident among the young.

Studies show that healthy eating habits are formed in childhood. People who eat a lot of fruit and vegetables in childhood remain good consumers. Those who eat little tend not to change their ways and also pass on their bad habits to their own children. Research has also shown that families with a lower level of income tend to consume less fruit and vegetables.