European Commission Proposes School Fruit Scheme Worth EUR90M Per Year

The sum will be matched by national funds in EU member states that choose to join the program.

This is the latest stage in the Commission's efforts to improve health and nutrition, as set out in the 'Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity and related health issues'.

The School Fruit Scheme aims to encourage good eating habits in young people, which studies show tend to be carried on into later life.

Besides providing free fruit and vegetables, the scheme would require participating member states to set up national strategies including educational and awareness-raising initiatives and the sharing of best practice.

An estimated 22 million children in the EU are overweight, the European Commission said. More than 5 million these are obese and this figure is expected to rise by 400,000 every year. Improved nutrition can play an important part in combating this problem, the release added.

The proposal will be sent to the Council and European Parliament.

"This proposal shows we're serious about taking concrete steps to fight obesity," said EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mariann Fischer Boel.

"Giving kids good habits at an early age is crucial as they will carry these into later life. Too many of our children eat far too little fruit and vegetables and often don't appreciate how delicious they are. You only have to walk down any high street in Europe to see the extent of the problems we face with overweight kids. Let's do something about it," she added

The proposal for a School Fruit Scheme follows an undertaking made during the negotiations on the reform of the Common Market Organization for fruit and vegetables in June 2007. Since then, the Commission has engaged in a wide-ranging public consultation and an in-depth impact assessment of different options.

The World Health Organization recommends a daily net intake of 400 grams of fruit and vegetables per person. The majority of Europeans fail to meet this target and the downward trend is particularly evident among the young, the release said.

National authorities would have to draw up a national strategy in conjunction with public health and education authorities, also involving the industry and interest groups, tailored of course to national preferences. The programs would begin at the start of the 2009/2010 school year.

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