SPANISH parents have slammed school dinners amid a child obesity crisis, a study has revealed.
Some 94% of mums and dads said school canteens ‘need improvement’, while nine out of 10 called for more fruit at lunchtimes.
A poll of 2,000 parents was conducted by consumer advice group to the Government, Kantar, in a study called ‘Assessment of parents on school feeding in Spain’.
It comes after the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that Spanish girls aged six to nine were the second most obese in Europe, while obesity among boys of the same age was the fourth most prevalent.
“There are worrisome risk factors of overweight and childhood obesity in Spain, much higher than in the countries around us,” said Sergio Caceres, the Marketing Director of Platano de Canarias, which commissioned the research.
The findings will make tough reading for schools, as just 24% of parents said that school dinners came with information about the ingredients used.
Meanwhile, 56% of those polled called for seasonal produce to be used, 46% wanted a reduction in fatty foods and 40% said the sugar content of meals was too high.
Leading nutritionist Carlos Rios added: “The school cafeteria should prepare healthy food in an appetizing and attractive way.
“This is essential to combat the epidemic of ultra-processed foods in Spain.”
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