Scotland proposes taking smoothies, fruit juices off menus in schools

LONDON - Fruit juice and smoothies will be banned from schools in Scotland under new proposals announced Monday.

Themed on ensuring there is less sugar but more fruit and vegetables on school dinner menus, recommendations by experts to make school food and drink healthier are being consulted on by the Scottish authorities.

Although strict rules already apply to the nutritional content of meals, drinks and snacks served in Scottish schools, following a review by health, nutrition and education experts, views are being sought on proposals to further reduce sugar and other measures to promote healthy choices and help tackle childhood obesity.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she wants to cut child obesity by half by 2030.

Almost 30 percent of children in Scotland are at risk of being overweight, and 14 percent are at risk of being obese, according to government figures.

The latest proposals include no longer permitting fruit juice and smoothies to be offered in primary and high schools. The recommendations also call for increased access to fresh fruit and vegetables with a minimum of two portions of vegetables and a portion of fruit to be offered as part of a school lunch.

The government also wants to introduce lower sugar limits for foods such as breakfast cereal and yoghurts, and reducing how often sweetened and baked goods are available in primary schools.

There will also be a new regulation for red meat which specifies, for the first time, how much of a child's weekly intake should be high-quality produce and limits the amount of processed meat

Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: "More than 360,000 meals are dished up in Scottish schools every day, setting children and young people up for their lessons and -- through learning about healthy habits -- for life. The proposals we are putting forward are based on the latest scientific and expert advice, as well as the views of local authorities, schools and catering staff."

In primary schools uptake of school lunches is the highest it has ever been due to the introduction of free school meals in Scotland in January 2015.