Nine out of 10 urban schools have unhealthy food outlets nearby: UNICEF

Nine in 10 secondary schools in major cities have unhealthy food outlets nearby, making it easy for students to buy snacks and drinks that pose risks to their health, according to a UNICEF report.

The findings show that schoolchildren often choose unhealthy food when spending their pocket money. The outlets include snack shops, supermarkets and confectionery stores, Dutch news outlet NL Times reported on Monday.

Lisbeth Velema of the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum) told NOS that the widespread availability of unhealthy food near schools was concerning. She said children might find sugary and fatty foods more appealing than healthier alternatives, making it harder for them to make healthy choices.

According to UNICEF, more than three-quarters of the food purchased by adolescents aged 12 to 17 is unhealthy. During school breaks, students can easily buy sausage rolls, sweets, crisps and soft drinks.

There are currently no specific restrictions on selling unhealthy food near schools. However, local authorities want to change the situation, arguing that stricter rules are needed to limit the sale of such products.

Supermarkets should also expand the availability of healthier food options for children, according to the report.

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A study by Amsterdam UMC earlier this month found a similar pattern, with unhealthy food outlets located near around 94 per cent of secondary and vocational schools.

Earlier, 14 municipalities called for greater authority to decide whether new businesses could open near schools.

The study covered food outlets in Almere, Amsterdam, ’s-Hertogenbosch, Leiden, Rotterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, Breda, Groningen and Tilburg. Unhealthy food outlets were more prevalent than those selling healthier options in all the cities examined.

Source: NL Times