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Right: In Western Australia, the Waggrakine Primary School Canteen (aka Super Food Headquarters,) is run by the P&C as a service to the school community. The canteen is self funding and not for profit. That is, it must cover its own costs, but does not make money from its operations.

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Arguments in favour of schools monitoring student lunches

1. Poor nutrition is common among Australian schoolchildren and their parents
Those who advocate that schools should actively monitor what students are eating for lunch claim that this is necessary to help shift the poor eating habits of many Australian families.
On July 19, 2019, the Australia Institute of Health and Welfare released a report detailing the poor diets of many Australians. The report concluded 'Australians of all ages generally have a poor diet-that is they do not eat enough of the 5 food groups and eat too many discretionary foods high in salt, fat and sugar.' https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/food-nutrition/poor-diet/contents/poor-diet-in-children
The report found that 7.1 percent of children aged 2-17 consumed sugar sweetened drinks daily in 2017-18. It further found that three to eight serves of discretionary foods (high in sugar, fat, and salt) were consumed by children each day in 2011-12. Children aged 2-17 years who are daily consumers of sugar sweetened drinks consume on average 2.4 cups per day (equivalent to 1.6 cans of soft drink or one 600mL bottle). Daily consumption of sugar sweetened drinks generally increased as age increased, for both boys and girls-from 4 percent of 2-3-year-olds up to 12 percent of 14-17-year-olds. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/food-nutrition/poor-diet/contents/poor-diet-in-children
It further found that adult diets were similarly poor. Less than one in ten adults met the recommendations for daily vegetable consumption in 2017-18, while five to seven serves of discretionary foods were consumed by adults per day in 2011-12. 1 in 2 people aged 18 and over (49 percent) did not eat the recommended two serves of fruit, while over 9 in 10 (92 percent) did not eat the recommended 5-6 serves of vegetables. Fruit intake was worse among young people: more than half (54 percent) of those aged 18-24 had inadequate fruit intake, compared to one-third (36 percent) of people aged 75 and over. Fruit and vegetable consumption was also measured over time. Between 2007-08 and 2017-18, the proportion of the population not meeting the fruit and vegetable guidelines remained about the same, approximately 49-52 percent of people do not meet the fruit guidelines, and approximately 93-94 percent do not meet the vegetable guidelines. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/food-nutrition/poor-diet/contents/poor-diet-in-adults
The decline in children's diets from infancy to school age has also been demonstrated by a Victorian study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics on March 12, 2018. The study found that while over 90 percent of children met Australian Dietary Guidelines for fruit and vegetable intake at nine months, the number of children eating enough vegetables dropped substantially to less than 10 percent by 18 months and stayed low after that. Fruit intake was better, with most children meeting the guidelines at nine months and 18 months; however, this reduced to only about one third who met the guidelines at five years.
The guidelines recommend that children under two years of age do not eat any discretionary or 'junk' foods, and yet less than 10 percent of children were meeting this guideline. By three and a half years of age, discretionary foods were providing on average more than a quarter of a child's total energy intake - a seriously concerning 235 percent of the recommended upper limit. https://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/media-releases/articles/urgent-need-to-tackle-poor-diets-of-australian-children-deakin-study
Lead author Dr Alison Spence, from the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) at Deakin University, has stated, 'Diets of young children are critically important for their current and future health and this study shows that they are missing out on key food groups like fruits and vegetables and eating too much junk food from an early age.' https://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/media-releases/articles/urgent-need-to-tackle-poor-diets-of-australian-children-deakin-study
The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne has warned against adolescents worsening their nutritional status by misusing their growing independence and either indulging excessively in discretionary foods or following fad diets. The Hospital's advice page states, 'As children get older and become more independent, they may decide to follow particular diets or restrict certain food groups. There are many diets that adolescents may find appealing, and it is common for older children to experiment with "fad" diets. Unnecessarily restricting particular food groups may result in nutrient deficiencies which can be detrimental to health as your child may be missing vital nutrients for growth and development (e.g. going gluten-free when it's not needed...)' https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Nutrition_older_children/
In the context of this general background of poor nutrition among children and their parents, one Western Australian teacher has been quoted as saying that while she had some reservations about policing school lunchboxes, she understood why some schools chose to do this. She stated, 'Go sit at a school in a lower socio-economic area - kids with one roll-up for recess, or two dry cruskits, one chocolate chip cookie, or one jam sandwich- this was to cover recess and lunch, everyday...something needs to happen.' https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/lunchbox-policing-wa-schools-crackdown-on-unhealthy-food-20170531-gwhb8w.html

2. Poor nutrition negatively affects children's health
Those who favour schools actively monitoring student lunches point to the long-term health consequences of poor nutrition.
It is recognised that what children eat in their early years and the eating patterns they form can have a significant impact on their physical health well into the future. Deb Schofield, diabetes education services manager at Diabetes WA has noted that a lunch box that is packed with energy-dense foods - such as cakes, biscuits, and crisps - can lead to children filling up on those foods and not having room left for foods with enough essential nutrients. A diet substantially composed of high fat and high sugar foods can result unhealthy weight increases. Ms Schofield has stated, 'Being overweight or obese in childhood means these children are more likely to grow into overweight or obese adults, putting them at risk of multiple chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.' Ms Schofield advises, 'Go for a balanced lunchbox and don't make occasional "extra" foods, such as cakes and crisps, seem like every day eating.' http://health.thewest.com.au/news/1787/how-eating-can-affect-childrens-wellbeing
The Victorian government's Better Health Channel notes, 'The number of overweight children in Australia has doubled in recent years, with a quarter of children considered overweight or obese. Causes of obesity in children include unhealthy food choices, lack of physical activity and family eating habits.' The Channel lists health conditions which are related to obesity. Though these conditions usually present in adulthood, they are now being observed in children and adolescents. These conditions include type 2 diabetes - while this condition is most commonly seen in adults, it is now also being diagnosed in children; eating disorders such as bulimia or binge eating; orthopedic disorders - problems with foot structure; liver problems, including fatty liver; cardiomyopathy - a problem with the heart muscle, caused when extra effort is needed to pump blood; respiratory disorders, such as blocked airways and restrictions in the chest wall, which cause breathlessness during exercise; and sleep apnoea - this is a condition that causes difficulty breathing when sleeping. It also causes snoring, waking often and poor sleep. It makes people feel tired and contributes to poor concentration during the day. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/obesity-in-children-causes
The 'Obesity Epidemic in Australia Final Report' was released by the Australian Parliament on December 5, 2018. The report presented a similar list of illnesses associated with obesity. It stated, 'The link between obesity and poor health outcomes is well established. Overweight and obesity lead to heightened risk of developing chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. In particular, visceral fat, which is stored around the body's vital organs, has been associated with increased risk of heart disease and metabolic disorders. Being overweight or obese also increases risk for at least 13 types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer. file:///C:/Users/Pc/Downloads/c01.pdf
It has been noted that this problem has been developing for at least thirty years, that is, while nearly three cohorts of primary and secondary schoolchildren have completed their education. Analysis of data collected in state surveys between 1967 and 1997 shows that from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s the prevalence of obesity tripled and that of overweight doubled among 7- to 15-year-olds, compared with a much smaller rate of increase over the preceding 16 years. Other data indicates that obesity may be developing at a much younger age. According to recent research from South Australia, the percentage of obese pre-schoolers (children aged four years) in South Australia rose from 3.5 percent for girls and 3.2 percent for boys in 1995 to 5.8 percent for girls and 4.1 percent for boys in 2002. https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/Publications_Archive/archive/obesity
It has also been noted that in addition to predisposing children to overweight and obesity and the risk of many associated diseases, poor childhood nutrition threatens dental health. Dr Justin Wong, a specialist paediatric dentist, has stated, 'More than half of decayed teeth in children are currently untreated and yet it can have negative effects on their quality of life, including pain, difficulty eating, altered sleeping habits, speech, growth and social behaviour.' The frequency of consumption of sugary foods has a much greater influence on decay risk than the actual amount eaten. So regular consumption of sugary treats, including dried fruit, fruit leathers, muesli bars and fruit drinks (including 100 per cent juices) leads to an increase in decay-causing bacteria in the mouth, increasing the risk of developing tooth decay. Dr Wong recommends, 'Whole fresh fruit and vegetables are preferable to processed foods with added sugars because decay-causing bacteria are less able to create acids from fruit sugars.' http://health.thewest.com.au/news/1787/how-eating-can-affect-childrens-wellbeing
In this context of increasing obesity and ill health among children there are parents and others who support the actions of those schools that are attempting to monitor student lunches. Sarah Wilson, who hosts the education and support blog 'I Quit Sugar', has stated, 'Clearly these teachers feel someone needs to do something about the issue... Every school day we entrust our kids to teachers between 9am and 3pm. Rather than sledge them, let's support them to do it in a way that neither shames nor misguides.' https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/should-school-lunch-boxes-be-monitored/news-story/9a1f740014fef0b328eb6a70d29f375d

3. Good nutrition positively affects children's academic progress
Those who favour schools actively monitoring student lunches point to the positive effect that good nutrition can have on children's mental state and their capacity to learn.
Research in the United States has recently shown a link between healthy school lunches and improved student test scores. In the United States students' meals are supplied by contractors and served in a canteen setting. A Californian study has demonstrated that those schools supplying the healthiest meals to their students showed improved student performance on a standardised across-state test of between .03 and .04 standard deviations - a statistically significant improvement. https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/03/do-healthy-lunches-improve-student-test-scores/520272/ Sean Patrick Corcoran, an associate professor of economics and education policy at New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, has stated, 'I've seen a number of other rigorous studies that also find a connection between healthy eating and academic performance. Students who eat regular, healthy meals are less likely to be tired, are more attentive in class, and retain more information.' https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/03/do-healthy-lunches-improve-student-test-scores/520272/https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/03/do-healthy-lunches-improve-student-test-scores/520272/
In Britain, a School Food Trust study conducted in 2009 found that improving food and dining facilities had a positive effect on pupils' behaviour and meant they were better at working on their own. Researchers made improvements at seven schools and used another four where lunch improvements had not been made as a control. Observers recorded pupil behaviour at the beginning of the study and then again 15 weeks later. The study found that pupils at the schools where improvements had been made were 18 percent more likely to be 'on task' (concentrating and engaged with learning) compared with those in the control schools. The study concluded, 'The net effect of these improvements in behaviour is likely to mean that more time is spent on achieving the objectives of the lesson and less time on activities or discipline needed to retain the pupils' focus.' https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/jul/08/school-lunches-pupil-concentration A 2015 Canadian study similarly found that lower diet quality, along with breakfast skipping and sugary drink consumption, were each associated with lower academic performance, reinforcing the value of good nutrition to children's health and learning. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/jul/08/school-lunches-pupil-concentrationhttps://theconversation.com/why-your-kids-need-a-national-school-food-program-83135
The Victorian government's Healthy Eating Advisory Service also makes the link between children's diets and their academic performance. It notes, 'The research suggests that eating a healthy and nutritious diet can improve mental health, enhance cognitive skills like concentration and memory and improve academic performance.' It further notes, 'Consuming too many nutritionally-poor foods and drinks that are high in added fats, sugars and salt, such as lollies, chips and fried foods has been connected to emotional and behavioural problems in children and adolescents. In fact, young people that have the unhealthiest diets are nearly 80 percent more likely to have depression than those with the healthiest diets.' The site quotes the principal of Marlborough Primary School, who states, 'When kids eat a healthy diet with a wide variety of fruit and vegetables in that diet, they actually perform better in the classroom.? They're going to have better stamina with their work, and at the end of the day it means we'll get better learning results which will impact on them in the long term.' https://heas.health.vic.gov.au/schools/classroom/food-mood-and-learning
An article published by Campbellsville University, Kentucky, in December 2016 on its Education site stressed the impact of school lunch on student performance. It stated, 'There are several direct effects that involve the immediate impact of nutrition on the daily performance of a student. Mental and behavioral problems can be traced back to unhealthy nutrition and poor eating habits.
Nutritional deficiencies in zinc, B vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acids and protein have been shown to affect the cognitive development of children. There is also evidence to suggest that diets with high amounts of trans and saturated fats can have a negative impact on cognition. This will harm the ability of students to learn at a pace necessary for school success.
Scientists have also established a link between student behavior and nutrition. Access to proper nutrition can help students maintain psychosocial well-being and reduce aggression. This can have a positive effect on students by avoiding discipline and school suspension.' https://online.campbellsville.edu/education/healthy-body-healthy-mind-the-impact-of-school-lunch-on-student-performance/

4. Advertising and packaging make healthy food choices difficult for parents and children
Those who argue that monitoring student lunches has a role to play in promoting healthy eating claim that it is necessary to help combat the influence of advertising and misleading labels which influence both children and their parents to purchase potentially harmful foods.
In 2014, Choice magazine published an article outlining the influence of advertising on the foods young people choose to eat. The article claims, 'Research has...shown advertising plays an important role in promoting unhealthy eating habits, influencing the brands children choose and encouraging them to like energy-dense salty, sugary or fatty foods.' https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/packaging-labelling-and-advertising/advertising/articles/junk-food-advertising-to-kids
Associate professor Teresa Davis from the University of Sydney Business School has warned that the influence of advertising campaigns can be very difficult for parents to counter. She has stated, 'The battleground between the food industry and parents is certainly not a level playing field. Advertising to kids is all-pervasive - [it's] a multi-billion-dollar industry with sophisticated, constantly evolving psychological techniques. We expect individual parents to be smarter than clever market researchers and branding experts, but not all parents possess the nutritional knowledge to counteract misleading marketing messages.' Davis warns that reversing children's preferences from unhealthy to healthy foods is hard when they are swamped with messages about 'treat' foods and there is almost no promotion of healthy food. https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/packaging-labelling-and-advertising/advertising/articles/junk-food-advertising-to-kids
Jane Martin from the Obesity Policy Coalition (OPC) has cautioned parents that many fast food and soft drink companies attempt to confuse the picture by associating their brands with sporting activities that are seen as healthy. Martin states, 'Fast food companies sponsoring sports undermines the healthy eating messages that governments and parents are trying to promote. It normalises the relationship between junk food and sport, sending the message that if I play sport, I can eat what I want.' There are many sporting activities sponsored by fast food and soft drink manufacturers. McDonald's sponsors children's sports such as Little Athletics, Hoop Time basketball, and Swimming Queensland. KFC and Milo are sponsors of Cricket Australia. Coca-Cola sponsors Bicycle Network, which has a Happiness Cycle program for teens. https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/packaging-labelling-and-advertising/advertising/articles/junk-food-advertising-to-kids
In a 2011 a research paper titled 'Marketing obesity? Junk food, advertising and kids' was prepared by the Social Policy Section of the Australian Parliament. It noted the extent to which advertising targeting children shaped their food preferences. A British Heart Foundation and Children's Food Campaign was cited which concluded that food marketing to children is almost always for unhealthy products and that this plays an important role in encouraging unhealthy eating habits which are likely to continue into adulthood. Further, evidence suggests that advertisements affect food choices at both brand and category level. That is, a McDonald's hamburger advertisement is likely not only to make it more probable that a person will buy a McDonald's hamburger in preference to another brand, but also that the person will buy a hamburger per se. There is evidence that advertising unhealthy foods to children influences not only which brands they choose, but the overall balance of their diet, encouraging them to eat energy-dense salty, sugary, or fatty foods in place of those which are more nutritious and wholesome. https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1011/11rp09
The parliamentary research paper also noted the extent to which food and soft drink manufacturers were harnessing children to demand that their parents purchase unhealthy items. This is referred to as 'pester power'. The paper states, 'According to the American Centre for Science in the Public Interest, pestering strategies undermine parental authority. Parents are forced to choose between being "the bad guy" by saying no to junk food or giving in to incessant demands. This conflict in negotiation between in parents and children is has been recognised as common, with "co-shopping" described by parents as stressful because of the purchase demands made by children.
One marketing website promotes pester power as "a passport to growth" for companies. It advises advertisers "to develop a strategy, which targets the kids and influences them totally, so that next time they are out with their parents, they get what they want".' https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1011/11rp09
It is also claimed that, despite food labelling regulations, some companies persist in making misleading claims about the nutritional value of their products. In 2016, for example, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) took legal action against Heinze Company Australia for its packaging of Little Kids Shredz products. Heinze was found to have falsely marketed these products, which contain more than 60 percent sugar, as healthy options for young children. The ACCC demonstrated that the Shredz packaging featured images of fresh fruit and vegetables and statements such as '99 percent fruit and veg' to deliberately mislead the public. https://www.adnews.com.au/news/heinz-called-out-over-misleading-kids-food-claims
The combination of advertising pressure from food and soft drink companies and misleading packaging from some food manufacturers makes it challenging for parents to supply genuinely nutritious lunches. Supporters of schools monitoring student lunches argue that schools can assist parents by helping them resist the influence of advertisers and by clarifying the nutritional value of some items.

5. Schools' lunchbox policies and monitoring programs are intended to be respectful and collaborative
Supporters of schools developing lunchbox policies and monitoring student lunchboxes argue that these are intended to be respectfully and collaboratively developed and implemented.
The approach recommended has been explained by the South Australian Department of Education in its guidelines for schools. The Department guidelines state, 'Working with children to improve their understanding about healthy food choices can have a positive impact upon what is brought to school. This includes making sure parents and caregivers are aware of the site's policy around healthy food and encouraging them to consider it when providing food and drinks. It is important that teachers and carers do not judge what is in a child's lunchbox or send food home with a child.' https://www.education.sa.gov.au/parents-and-families/safety-and-wellbeing/food-brought-home-healthy-food-choices The language used in these guidelines is respectful and non-proscriptive. Its emphasis is educative, stressing the importance of making parents 'aware' of the school's healthy food choices policy, but it is not heavily directive. It encourages a non-judgmental approach and specifically warns against teachers making judgements about parental food choices and states that food should not be confiscated and returned home with the child.
The same guidelines also emphasise a collaborative approach. Referring to energy drinks, the guidelines state, 'There are no set guidelines for students bringing energy drinks to school. Individual schools are encouraged to develop policies in consultation with their communities. Teachers are encouraged to use information about energy drinks to work with students and children to help them make informed and responsible choices about their use. Providing accurate information to the parent community and governing council about the possible harmful effects of energy drinks is also important.' https://www.education.sa.gov.au/parents-and-families/safety-and-wellbeing/food-brought-home-healthy-food-choices Again, what is being stressed is the importance of community education and consultation.
The Healthy Kids Association, originally the New South Wales School Canteen Association, also adopts a similar respectful, non-directive tone when addressing parents about the preparation of school lunch boxes. It states, 'With the unpredictable nature of our day to day lives, preparing and packing a healthy lunchbox can be a difficult task. Finding time to shop and prepare interesting and healthy meals for school lunches can stressful. But the foods we send to school with our kids can contribute up to 1/3 of their daily intake of nutrients. So, it's important to pack a balanced lunch to ensure they're getting the nutrients they need.' https://healthy-kids.com.au/parents/packing-a-healthy-lunchbox/
In Britain, the situation regarding the regulation of school lunchboxes is broadly that in Australia. Packed lunches brought from home are not covered by the regulations surrounding food sold in school canteens. However, schools in Britain, as in Australia, can set their own policies regarding the types of food consumed on their premises during the school day. https://www.teeslaw.com/insights/can-a-school-decide-what-your-child-eats/
The British National Health Service has published guidance for assisting schools in developing a packed lunch policy. The guidance states, 'The whole school community and local partnerships should be involved and engaged with developing a packed lunch policy.' Though the guidance recommends schools monitor school lunches, it suggests that this should be in line with the policy developed through community consultation. Its emphasis is on gradual change, education, and community involvement. It states, 'Schools should introduce changes slowly and in agreement with whole school community, with a final goal of developing a school policy which fits in with national standards.' The National Health Service guidance also stresses a responsive approach which evaluates the effectiveness of schools' packed lunch policies to see if they need reform. It states, 'Collecting data and monitoring the impact of your policy will allow you to see and make improvements.' https://ww3.brighton-hove.gov.uk/sites/brighton-hove.gov.uk/files/School%20Lunch%20Box%20Policy_0.pdf
Irby Primary School is an example of a British school attempting to follow an educative, non-judgmental approach. Before giving advice on what should be included in a school lunchbox it states, 'We appreciate this may not suit all families and the decision about what to include in your child's lunchbox remains with parents.' Regarding the monitoring of lunchboxes, it states, 'Lunchbox contents are monitored from time to time, as one way of evaluating the effectiveness of the schools Healthy Eating Policy. Feedback for pupils remains generic and focuses on "healthy" food items e.g. "Well done, I see you have some juicy fruit and veg". Where there may be a high number of products which are high in fat, sugar, or salt, this will be used as a focus for PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic)lessons...' https://www.irbyprimary.com/s/Irby-Food-Policy-2020.rtf