The British Dental Health Foundation has slammed the sale of dried fruit in school vending machines because it has high sugar levels, which can contribute to tooth decay.
“You can get vending machines with fresh fruit in them and that’s the direction we’d like to see it going in,” said group chief executive Dr Nigel Carter. “I’m not sure how dried fruit has crept into being perceived as healthy - it’s concentrated sugar.”
He added: “I’m not happy that it’s on the 5-a-day list either. It is irresponsible when your programme is promoting it as a healthy snack. It’s something we’re looking to campaign against.”
Carter admitted that the dental industry had gone the wrong way about helping consumers to make healthy choices. “We’ve been very guilty of pushing the anti-sugar message, instead of promoting a balanced diet. The problem with dried fruit is that it’s being portrayed as a snack. It wouldn’t be a problem if it was eaten after a meal, but if consumed between meals, your teeth are under constant attack.”
However, the School Food Trust (SFT), which is responsible for improving the quality of food consumed in schools, explained that it was vital to give young people a choice. “I’m aware of the issues around dried fruit, but not everyone likes fresh fruit. Also, dried fruit lasts a lot longer in the vending machine,” said a spokeswoman for the Trust.
“I understand dentists’ concerns, but education around food comes hand in hand with education about cleaning your teeth,” she said. “There will always be issues when implementing regulation, but it’s important to teach young people about different textures and tastes.”
The SFT published A fresh look at vending in schools last month, which looks at introducing vending practices that meet the new school food standards, and it is launching a more detailed version in Autumn.