CAP refers to the report on the recent study done by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia which shows that school children are eating fried chicken, fries, chocolates, ice-cream, carbonated drinks, cream biscuits and ' jeruk ' (pickles) in schools. Some canteen operators have been found openly flouting the School Canteen Guidelines.

For many years now, CAP has been highlighting that junk food is being sold in and also around schools, but the problem still persists.

We had already brought to the attention of the Ministry of Health that some schools in Penang were selling 'fast foods' like nuggets and fries and a host of junk food and drink which was highly coloured, sugared or salted, or contained too much preservative.

CAP once again calls on the Ministry of Health and the Education authorities to act to immediately to halt the practice of canteen operators selling unhealthy food and drink to children. Penalties should be imposed on canteen stall operators who refuse to cooperate.

Food such as 'nasi lemak', 'meehoon', 'noodle soup', 'thosai', 'idli', 'chapatti' and 'uppumau' can be sold in canteens, but these foods need to be prepared in a healthy manner. The oil and salt that is used to prepare these dishes should be used sparingly. Canteen operators should also ensure an ample supply of fresh fruit.

Fizzy drinks and other sweetened and coloured drinks can be immediately replaced with plain, drinking water. Water fountains or dispensers could be placed in school compounds and canteens to encourage children to drink water.

School children will really start eating healthy food once this type of food is the only choice available in canteens, and the ever-present temptation of junk food is removed. It may be necessary to convert certain sections of the School Canteen Guidelines into law to give the authorities more enforcement powers to ensure compliance.

The Education Ministry and the Ministry of Health should also work hand in hand with the Local Government to immediately halt the practice of food being sold outside school grounds, A fixed radius around schools can be set where a ban on hawking can be effected. Efforts to ensure that only healthy food is provided inside the schools will be negated if the very food that is being phased out of school canteens can be purchased by children immediately on leaving their school premises.

The writer is president, Consumers Association of Penang .