DepEd reminds
canteens against selling junk food, softdrinks
7:02
am | Tuesday, June 18th, 2013
3 158 16
THE Cebu City Schools
Division of the Department of Education (DepEd) is reminding public school
canteens about the policy prohibiting the selling of junk food and softdrinks.
According to the
Education Program Supervisor Delia Kiamco, they are regularly monitoring public
school canteens to ensure that they only sell nutritious food.
Business and sanitary
permits and other licenses are annually checked by DepEd to assure that the
food sold in the canteen are clean and safe.
Kiamco said that those
who are managing canteens should always bear in mind that service and not
profit is the main consideration in operating a school canteen.
As provided for under
DepEd Order 17, only nutrient-rich and fortified food shall be made
available in school canteens.
Processed fortified
food should bear the ‘Sangkap Pinoy’ seal.
Among beverages, only
milk, vegetable and fruit shakes and juices are allowed.
Kiamco said that
in order to curb the malnutrition problem among school children, selling of
soft drinks and other carbonated drinks, sugar-based synthetic or artificially
flavored juices and junk food are prohibited since these are detrimental to
children’s health.
DepEd also prohibits the
use of mono sodium glutamate or vetsin in food. Only iodized salt should be
used to help eliminate the iodine deficiency disorder among school children.
School canteen operators
are required to post their menu indicating nutritional value on a
bulletin board within the school canteen premises.
Label dilemma
However, Kiamco said
that because almost all junk food brands in the market have the “Sangkap
Pinoy” and Fortified seal some canteens justify their sale.
“Sometimes, canteen
operators are after money making. We are strongly implementing the food service
teachers from selling softdrinks and junk food,” Kiamco said.
Kiamco said that they
will hold another meeting to decide what action to take on food products
with Sangkap Pinoy and Fortified labels.
She is asking the public
to report to DepEd if there are any public school canteens that still
sell prohibited food and drinks.
DedEd is also having
problems with those selling junk food outside school campuses.
“We cannot do anything
against these vendors outside the schools except to remind students not to
patronize them,” said Kiamco. /Christine Emily L. Pantaleon, Correspondent
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