Cabinet OK's bill on nutritious school food
07/23/2012 03:36
Bill would require the health minister to be consulted about the nutritional composition of food in schools.
Baked vegetables in oilve oil Photo: Daniel Lila
The cabinet approved a government bill to supervise the quality of food served
and sold in educational institutions on Sunday. The bill is due to receive its
first reading this week.
Education Minister Gideon Sa’ar initiated the
bill, which if approved will require the health minister to be consulted about
the nutritional composition of food in schools.
According to the bill,
companies that supply the food will have to publicize the nutritional value and
ingredients of what is served and sold. At the beginning of every school year,
principals will have to provide students and parents with instructions and
conditions for selling and serving the food.
Any food manufacturer or
supplier who does not meet the legal conditions for approved food will be fined
a one-time payment of NIS 6,000, according to the bill.
Such companies
will be fined NIS 3,000 for every day afterward that they violate the
law.
If the nutritional value of the food products is not announced, the
fine will be NIS 1,500.
According to the bill, the education minister
will appoint supervisors who will have the authority to check food in schools
and take samples for lab examinations. The aim of the legislation is to ensure
that the food is not full of empty calories which cause obesity, and that it is
healthy and nutritious.