18 November 2008 - The European Parliament today approved a scheme for the EU budget to subsidise at least one fruit or vegetable per day for pre-school and school age children. Green MEP for the South East, Caroline Lucas, commented:

"I wholeheartedly welcome the European Parliament’s approval today for a scheme to distribute fruit and vegetables to pre-school and school age children in the EU.

"The Greens in the UK have long campaigned for healthier eating and we especially welcome the Parliament’s emphasis here on seasonal, locally grown and organic fruit.

"Action at the EU level to promote better food in schools cannot come too soon. We face a health time bomb in the EU Member states, where it is estimated that there are 22 million children overweight, including 5 million severely overweight."

Dr Lucas concluded: "This scheme will, however, represent a mere drop in the ocean unless it is backed up by intensive educational programmes to raise awareness of healthy eating in EU schools. We also need a radical reform of European agricultural policy, which is currently heavily biased towards industrial methods of production."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Visit the Greens/EFA Group "Eat better" campaign at http://www.eat-better.org

For more information on the UK Green Party’s campaign for free school meals, visit http://www.greenparty.org.uk/policies/free-school-meals.html