The UK government should provide more fresh fruit and vegetables to schoolchildren via the European School Fruit Scheme, according to the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC).
The scheme will be launched in several member states this September following recent EU endorsement.
The FPC has welcomed the scheme and is urging the UK government to match funding, part of the requirement of the EU scheme, and to expand the UK’s successful School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme.
Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the FPC, said: “With rising obesity levels and poor diet among children, an ambitious programme is needed to tackle this public health issue.
“Many UK fresh produce businesses are involved already in the successful UK School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme, and we have long supported the development of an EU-wide school fruit scheme.
“The UK government had the foresight to introduce a scheme some time ago; we would like see this taken further to give more children the chance to eat fresh fruit and vegetables at school and to develop good eating habits at an early age.
“The UK Schools Fruit and Vegetable Scheme is encouraging young children to form good eating habits. Since the introduction of the scheme in 2005 there has been a greater increase in consumption among six-10 year olds, the target age group of the scheme.
"We want the UK government to seize this opportunity and commit the funding to expand the highly successful School Fruit and Vegetable scheme.”
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