Abu Dhabi: With junk foods and fizzy drinks just a phone call away any time in the UAE, children may end up with unhealthy food habits during school vacation, a food safety official has warned.
“Here, children can easily get a Dh1.50 worth fizzy drink or a Dh5 burger by home delivery from the neighbourhood stores almost all the time; so some of them take more such foods and spend more time in front of television or computer during the vacation,” said Mohammad Jalal Al Reyaysa, Director of Communication and Community Affairs at the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA).
Such habits by children during the school vacation can attract killer diseases such as diabetes and obesity, he told Gulf News in an interview on Monday.
He said the UAE authorities have almost successfully got rid of unhealthy foods from school canteens but it is the parents’ turn during school vacation to ensure that their children follow a healthy life style, including proper food habits.
Al Reyaysa was referring to the regulations issued by the authority to avoid unhealthy foods from school canteens. The authority had banned the sale of several foods at schools, such as processed meat (sausages, nuggets, burgers, shawarma), nuts, French fries and chips, chocolate bars and ice cream, jelly lollipops, chewing gum with sugar, any type of sweets containing artificial colouring, soft drinks, energy drinks and flavoured water. Other emirates, including Dubai, have also implemented similar measures.
He urged parents to ensure that children do not eat such unhealthy foods at home and outside during the vacation also.
The official urged working parents to specially take care of their children who are left alone at home during the vacation.
He said working parents should inculcate a healthy life style among children as they cannot monitor them all the time.
He said the authority and schools have made several awareness campaigns for children which will help parents to build up such awareness further.
Those who travel abroad during the vacation can also take enough precautions in terms of food safety, the official said. “They can check the websites of food safety authorities in the respective countries and follow the follow the food safety instructions to avoid unneccesary problems,” Al Reyaysa said.
