Schoolchildren should be given fresh fruit and vegetables and not consume products resulting from a rushed service introduced before the end of the scholastic year, the Nationalist Party said on Saturday. 

In a statement, the PN said it was reacting to complaints made by parents of schoolchildren. 

The scheme to introduce free fruit and vegetables introduced by the former PN administration was intended to be educational to try to reduce obesity rates. 

"If the fruit and vegetables aren't fresh the education aim of this initiative will fizzle into nothing," the PN said. 

It said the produce should be given with the least possible use of plastic and with minimum impact to the environment. 

Launched at the beginning of 2010, the EU-funded scheme could not be implemented last September, as the government was striving to sort out administrative issues, including strict EU procurement conditions, Times of Malta had reported in January. 

 

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