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PRESS RELEASE: 27.03.2007

School cafeterias and vending machines to encourage healthy lifestyles

The beverage industry is already implementing the National Board of Education’s guidelines for schools

The National Board of Education and the National Public Health Institute recently published guidelines for schools on the sweets, soft drinks and sweetened juices sold in student cafeterias and vending machines. The soft drinks industry has already implemented the main vending machine recommendations presented in the memo. Soft drink vending machines in schools now focus on lite versions and brand name graphics will be removed from the sides of machines by the end of the year.

The National Board of Education and the National Public Health Institute are concerned about increasing obesity amongst children and young people. Soft drink manufacturers are in absolute agreement – this is a challenge that must be met. Yet simply banning certain foodstuffs will not work, as the reasons behind obesity are varied. The most powerful weapon at our disposal is an understanding of balanced lifestyles, moderate portions of a variety of foodstuffs and the importance of exercise.

The memo encourages schools to evaluate the products sold in their student cafeterias and vending machines from a health education perspective. The soft drinks industry has already advanced a long way in this. A year ago, the industry committed itself to increasing the number of sugar-free soft drinks and mineral waters available in vending machines. By the end of 2007, over half these drinks will be sugar-free. Vending machines can be programmed to shut off during, for example, lunch breaks and are not supplied to primary schools at all.

The memo also criticised commercial operations in schools. Once again, the soft drinks industry has been a pioneer. Companies responsible for drink distribution respect schools as advertisement-free zones. Soft drinks are not marketed on school premises and neither are sales promoted through, for example, price promotions. A year ago, the soft drinks industry unanimously decided to remove brand name graphics from the sides of vending machines. Over 60% of all vending machines are already brand-free, and any remaining graphics will be removed by the end of 2007. Even outside school hours, no drink advertisements are included in media or programmes targeted at children under 12.

Lite drinks lowest in calories after water

Lite drinks are lowest in calories after water. They also encourage school children to choose lighter options and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Children need to drink during the school day to maintain a correct liquid balance and to stay alert. Tasty lite drinks also act as an excellent pick-me-up. Soft drink bottles are also handy to carry about.

Extreme caution is needed when labelling certain foodstuffs as healthy or unhealthy. Every food and drink can have an occasional place in a balanced diet. Rash categorisation oversimplifies the truth and, at worst, can reinforce bad habits.

Soft drink habits among young people in Finland

• In a comparative study of 35 countries carried out by the WHO, daily consumption of soft drinks by young people was lowest in Finland. (WHO EUROPE – Young People’s Health in Context 2001/2002)
• A Stakes school health questionnaire also showed that 8th and 9th graders’ daily consumption of soft drinks was lower in 2005 than it was in 1997.
• Young people take in most of their liquids – 81% – at home. 19% of beverages are consumed outside the home, with soft drinks drunk at school accounting for 1.9%. (AC Nielsen: 15–19 beverage consumption 2005)
• Students drink an average of about 1-2 decilitres of soft drinks from school vending machines per week. A good third of this is zero-calorie lite drinks.

Additional information:
Managing Director Timo Jaatinen, tel. +358 (0)9 1488 71
Communications Manager Katri Tuulensuu, tel. +358 (0)9 1488 7601, GSM +358 (0)40 777 1938