School Canteen Operators Flouting Guidelines Will Be Blacklisted

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - School canteen operators, who flout the
School Canteen Guidelines by selling unhealthy food and drinks, will be
blacklisted and replaced with immediate effect, said Health Minister Liow
Tiong Lai.

He said the schedules of the list of food and drinks allowed to be sold in
school canteens would be distributed soon.

"Snacks and unhealthy drinks are prohibited in school canteens and they
should be replaced with nutritious food to ensure that pupils adopt a balanced
diet.

"Nutritious food sold in school canteens will be sold at low and affordable
prices," he told reporters after the launch of an operating theatre at
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre here Monday.

Liow advised parents and schools to play their roles in educating students
to take a nutritious and balanced diet for their growth.

"We have banned the sale of junk food for a long time but the types of food
before and now are different.

"Ironically, some junk food are brought to school canteens without the
knowledge of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health," he said.

Liow on Sunday announced that with immediate effect, junk food containing
excess sugar and salt, as well as soft drinks, was enforced in school canteens
with immediate effect to curb obesity among pupils.