FSA to get tough on vending and token schemes in schools

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is considering tough new measures to help improve children's diet and fitness.

In a dual strategy, the agency is looking at a ban on school vending machines that stock sweets and crisps and schemes that encourage children to make repeat purchases of unhealthy foods.

The measures, intended to stem the rising level of obesity among children, would put an end to schemes by McDonald's, Walkers Crisps and Cadbury, in which children collect tokens that are used to buy schoolbooks or sports equipment.

Joe Harvey, director of the Health Education Trust, said such schemes were inappropriate: "Cadbury, Nestlé and Coca-Cola don't need us to promote their products. These are companies with enormous marketing budgets. It's not necessary for schools to give them help in markets that they already dominate."

A spokeswoman for the Food and Drink Foundation defended the schemes because they promoted sport.

On the subject of vending, she said it was up to schools to decide what went into vending machines. Manufacturers were not allowed to approach them first, she added, but had to be invited in. Last year, vending sales added £10m to school budgets.

But the choice of vending products was "horribly unbalanced," according to Harvey. This was because of a widespread fear that machines selling milk, fruit juice, fresh sandwiches or fruit would not pay their way.

Harvey said this fear had to be overcome, and initial results from six-month trials of vending machines selling healthy items at 10 schools had been "very positive". A full report of the trials will be submitted to the FSA at the end of the month.

Following a consultation period, the agency will decide what recommendations to make to the Government next year.

Sir John Krebs, chairman of the FSA, said: "We know that the level of obesity in children is rising. It is a health time-bomb that could explode. Doing nothing is not an option."