Give our schoolchildren nutritious food

Monday, January 30, 2012

Dear Editor,

I would like to suggest that we change the nutrition programme in the "failing schools" to begin with, and all schools across Jamaica eventually. By first changing the nutrition programme in those schools that are considered failing, we will be able to assess the impact the change is producing, which will be considerable. Remove the bovine growth hormone (rBGH) milk, soy products, where they exist, and any processed, sugary junk foods, and replace with naturally produced, unprocessed, fresh foods and fresh natural juices.

Give our children another good reason to attend school, because by attending school they will be guaranteed nutritious meals, which they probably will not be able to obtain elsewhere. Remove their compulsory exposure to these destructive foods that children at times consume, because their parents cannot afford any better. A re-examination of what is truly nutritious is required. We need to accept that many of the foods that were once considered nutritious were done so erroneously in the first place, and some have been so contaminated, whether by the way they are being manufactured, or the content of the feeds to which they are exposed, that they are downright dangerous in their present form.

Questions are being raised about the behavioural effects of GMO foods on experimental mice, which seem to become antisocial and frightening creatures after exposure. Consider also that most of the GMO foods in our food supply are found in processed foods and drinks. Government should not be reticent to make the changes in the school menu because it will cost more. It is a trade-off, and other costs will move down: vandalism, security, fights with the resultant injuries, truancy, and health, as children develop healthy eating habits.

Carlton Stewart

Stewart.carlton@gmail.com