US schools ban junk food

Children in the US are to be banned from buying junk food at school as the nation fights an epidemic of obesity.

With almost 60 per cent of American adults now officially overweight, education officials in California, Texas and other states are proposing a bar on the sale of snacks and sugary soft drinks in school canteens.

The move comes as lawyers threaten to sue the food industry in the same way that they fought the tobacco giants. Several class actions have already been filed.

Dozens of school districts are looking at similar policies, with Congress this week examining a new law, the Obesity Prevention and Treatment Act, that would use health education to improve the country's eating habits.

Rules to be introduced this autumn in Texas - where state officials say that nearly 800,000 pupils are overweight - will ban soft drinks and other snacks with low nutritional value from canteens. They will, however, still be available for sale in vending machines elsewhere in schools.

There are concerns that widespread bans may hit finances. Nationwide, s chools ear n about £550million from the sale of snacks and soft drinks. Many have signed deals with companies such as Pepsi and Coca-Cola and use the proceeds for trips and equipment. In California, Oakland school district alone estimates it will lose about £450,000.

Fast food chains such as Taco Bell and Dominos Pizza also sell their products in many cafeterias.

Lobbyists for the food industry are fighting back with full-page advertisements in newspapers and magazines this week warning of the "food police" and "fat taxes".