CHILDREN spend a major part of their day at school. Therefore, the food provided by canteens there make a significant contribution to their growth.

However, most of these canteens provide junk food like burgers, chips, patties, cakes and soft drinks which contain saturated fat and added sugar. Students who visit the canteen regularly and buy greasy ingredients and sugary drinks gain weight. Besides, the daily intake of snacks leads to poor dental health.

School tuck shops fail to abide by the basic rules of health and hygiene. School administrations, too, do not take any interest in how canteens are being run.

I appeal to the health and education department to conduct extensive checks on canteens to ensure they provide healthy meals and drinks.

Furthermore, steps should be taken to make the school management follow adetailed guideline about the nutritional value of edibles, synthetic colours, artificial flavours, preservatives, additives and safe storage of food available in campus tuck shops.

M. Maaz Mehboob Karachi