The
European Union wants to provide school children with free fruits and veggies—to help combat childhood obesity. The
AFP reports:
The proposed programme would use fruit and vegetables that would be otherwise taken off the market for destruction in order to maintain stable prices.
Its aim is to provide healthy snacks to fight the growing problem of overweight children, who are thought to number 22 million in the 27-nation bloc. Of that number, five million are considered obese.
It would be funded to the tune of 90 million euros (141 million dollars) each year for the purchase and distribution of the produce. Member states taking up the scheme are expected to provide matching sums, although poorer countries would not have to provide as much.
Its certainly better than giving out hard candy and cupcakes.
Just the kind of thing the U.S. gov should do but won't. No wonder the U>S> is so inferior compared to Europe in healthcare. [Yeah I've been reading Overdosed America].