THE UNHEALTHY food should disappear from school buffets as of January 2015, according to the amendment to the School Act passed by the parliament on October 29. The new provision was submitted by Smer MP and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Renáta Zmajkovičová, the SITA newswire reported.
Though several opposition MPs praised the intention, they disliked this version of the law, the TASR newawire wrote.
“The aim of the proposal is to stop current trend of increasing obesity of Slovaks, especially the schoolchildren and youth,” Zmajkovičová said, as quoted by TASR.
The amendment prohibits the sale of additional fast food, the food with the amount of salt exceeding 1.5 grams per 100 grams, sweet bakery products, candies or sweet products. The buffets will also not be allowed to sell ice cream, ice lollies or sherbets, as well as drinks containing alcohol, caffeine or quinine, energy drinks and sweetened drinks, except for tea and cacao, SITA wrote.
Violation of the law will be met with €50-€500 fines.
The Food Chamber of Slovakia (PKS) warned that Zmajkovičová’s amendment is not based on any expert opinions or expert discussion. Therefore it asked the MPs not to support the proposal limiting the sale of nearly all foods.
Source: SITA, TASR
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
