Junking fast food

A popular term for food that has high calories but low nutritional value,typically produced in the form of packaged snacks needing little or no preparation. Junk food is generally high in fat,salt or sugar but deficient in protein,fibre and vitamins.

How ubiquitous is fast food?

As per Eric Schlossers famous book Fast Food Nation,it is everywhere. Some of his data for the US,back in 2000:

Americans spend more money on fast food than on higher education,personal computers,software or new cars. They spend more on fast food than on movies,books,magazines,newspapers,videos,and recorded music combined.

An estimated one out of every eight workers has at some point been employed by McDonalds.

The company annually hires about one million people,more than any other American organisation.

It is the largest owner of retail property in the world; spends more money on ads than any other brand; operates more playgrounds than any other US private entity; is one of the largest distributors of toys in the US.

Ronald McDonald has most degree of recognition after Santa Claus; the Golden Arches are now more widely recognised than the Christian cross.

Why ban junk food in schools?

42 million children under the age of five are overweight,35 million of them in developing countries,according to WHO.

Diets containing large amounts of fat,sugar or salt contribute to chronic diseases such as diabetes,heart disease and cancers,which cause 60 per cent of all deaths worldwide,WHO says. The risks presented by unhealthy diets start in childhood and build up throughout life.

WHO has recently asked member-states to try to reduce children8217;s consumption of junk food and soft drinks by restricting advertising and marketing. The recommendations include making schools and playgrounds free from all forms of marketing of junk food and sugary drinks.

How are others tackling the problem?

In 2005,California and New Jersey banned the sale of soda and other junk food in public schools. Massachusetts is even more stringent: even candy and chocolate milk are banned in public schools there. The move is part of an ongoing effort to curb the obesity epidemic in the US,a pet project of First Lady Michelle Obama.

In 2006,England published guidelines banning foods high in fat,sugar and saltsuch as processed meats,candy,chocolate and salty snacks in school cafeterias. Fruits,vegetables and fish are served instead.

Since 2010,councils across England are banning new takeaways from opening within 400 yards of any school,youth club or park.

The UAE is working on a strategy on health and nutrition education,which will focus on school feeding programmes.

Australias fast food industry has agreed to a voluntary code to govern the way it markets products to children. .

Other such measures

San Francisco prevents fast food restaurants from giving away trinkets and other toys in kids meals unless their food meets nutritional requirements.

Los Angeles put a moratorium on new fast food restaurants in an impoverished swathe of the city with a proliferation of such eateries and above average rates of obesity in 2008.

The Walt Disney Co. is likely to become the first major media company to ban junk food advertisements from its programming. It will ban fast foods and sugary cereals that don8217;t meet Disney8217;s nutrition standards. The guidelines will only come into effect in 2015.

Compiled by Arundhati Chakravarti