SHOULD THE SALE OF JUNK FOOD IN SCHOOL CANTEENS BE BANNED?

Junk food is the term used for food that have little nutritional value and more often than not, high in fat, salt, sugar and calories. It is considered as one of the unhealthy foods to be consumed because of its content and the preparation methods. Junk foods are favoured by the consumers especially the young generations. Preference by the consumers towards junk foods eventually leads to its wide marketing all across the globe. Nowadays, junk food can be easily obtained from any supermarket, fast food chains and even the canteens in school sells junk food. The facts that the children have the freedom to get everything they wish to eat are really worrying. Therefore, the sale of junk food should be banned because it triggers child obesity, causes behavioural problems in children and it increases litter problem.

Junk food consumption may cause behavioural problems in children. This problem occurs mainly because of the ingredients. In our culture, with such easy access to food, it is easy to ignore the fact that most of the items we purchase in traditional supermarkets are processed and contain additives. Man-made preservatives give food a longer shelf life which is an advantage for the manufacturers to bring in bigger revenue. Additives are also used to preserve flavour and colour. However, such additives in junk food may cause problems to children regarding their behaviour. In a discussion, Jemma Smith stated that many of these additives have been shown to cause behavioural problems in children, such as hyperactivity and poor concentration (Smith, 2005, p.3). This statement proves that junk food do causes behavioural problems in children.

Next, excess intake of junk food may lead to child obesity. Products with high sugar content such as chocolate bars, ice cream, canned drinks and chips is one of the main factors of child obesity. A professor from Central University claims that by offering foods high in fat and sugar, school canteens are actually contributing to the problem of youth weight gain. Healthy foods in the canteen reinforce message that students received in the classroom about good nutrition. (Reynolds, 2005, p.6) The fact that most young people are lack of physical activity has made the problem even worse. In such young age, children should not be overweight as they supposed to be monitored and taught about healthy lifestyle. Obesity is also dangerous because it increases the tendency to get various diseases. Therefore, junk food should be banned because it leads to child obesity.

The sale of junk food in school canteens is also one of the major contributors to litter problems. Most of the children prefer to buy junk food because it is usually in plastic bags or small packages and it is easy to carry everywhere. It is considered as the most convenient food as it is very cheap and affordable. However, children tend to litter right after they eat junk food because to them, a plastic bag on the floor is just tiny rubbish and it will be cleaned. If littering habit is owned by most of the student, there will be many dumpsites at the school and it is bad for the image of our communities. Littering is a hard habit to break unless there is a strict restriction act upon it. The cleaning cost also rises due to increasing litter problems. Although junk food sale brings most of the profit for the canteens, the school should consider providing the children a thought about healthy diet.