YES - Annie Seeley, nutritionist with the Food Commission
Junk food manufacturers frequently advertise their high-fat, high-sugar products as "treats", implying it would almost be cruel to deny a child the "occasional" daily treat. But many children already eat unbalanced diets and junk food upsets this balance further, adding large doses of fat and sugar and replacing healthier treats such as fresh fruit. School healthy eating policies fight back against a diet of junk food and are widely supported by health campaigners, including ourselves.
NO - Dr Vivienne Nathanson, head of science and ethics at the British Medical Association
Excess body weight is now the most common childhood disorder in Europe and obesity can cause lots of health problems both in childhood and in adult life. The school in Cheshire is right to adopt a healthy eating programme. But we are not sure that punitive measures work. If children eat healthily and do more exercise, the likelihood is that they will have more energy and feel better - and this is the reward.
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