South Ayrshire Council Environmental Health Officers collected 25 food samples from catering premises near to schools and had them analysed for fat and sodium contents, and the results were very enlightening.

Some secondary school students choose not to eat school meals at lunchtime and instead go and buy something from a food outlet near to their school. The food samples which were analysed were all taken by Officers from premises within a quarter of a mile of a secondary school, which is a convenient distance to walk to, purchase food and eat it, and return to school within a school dinner break.

The results of the food analysis were measured against the recommended maximum levels for fat and sodium, as laid down in the Scottish Government’s ‘Hungry for Success’ initiative for school meals.

The West of Scotland Food Liaison Group, which South Ayrshire Council is a member of, has published a survey that contains findings from 11 Scottish local authority areas. Of the samples taken nationally the fat content in 55% of samples had more than the recommended maximum of 25.1 grams per 100 grams, and 82% had more than the recommended level of 0.51 grams per 100 grams. In addition 49.6% contained more than double the recommended level of sodium.

In South Ayrshire the content of the samples taken revealed that 36% exceeded the recommended level of fat and 84% exceeded the recommended level of sodium.

Convener of the Council’s Community Safety Committee, Councillor Douglas Campbell said: “When students go into shops near their schools to buy their lunch they have a choice whether or not to choose a healthy option. Being realistic many students will choose to buy ‘fast food’ and take-away food, which can have high fat and sodium content.

“I think that the sample analysis was a very worthwhile exercise, as it provides students with the facts, which they may genuinely not have been aware of, and hopefully it will encourage them to choose healthier food in the future.

“The Council actively promotes ‘Hungry for Success’ in South Ayrshire schools and students can have a healthy and interesting balanced meal within their school at lunchtime. Students are encouraged to think about what they are eating, maintain a balanced diet, and look after their health.

“ Parents cannot always be with their children, and especially as students get older they will go and buy their own food. However, I think that it is important that both parents and children are aware of the contents of what they are eating.”

Most people are aware of fat content in food and many check food labels to see what the content is, but with sodium it can be a little confusing. Salt is made up of sodium and chloride, and it is the sodium in salt that can have adverse health implications. Food labels must always list salt if it is present in the food in the ingredients declaration, but sodium is only listed if the manufacturer, or packer of the food, includes nutrition labelling within the label, unless a nutrition claim such as ‘low fat’ or ‘high in fibre’ is made in which case nutrition labelling is mandatory.

With take-away foods choices can be more difficult as the purchaser does not have any indication of the fat or sodium levels, and may genuinely think that they are making a healthy choice when they are not.

Anyone who would like further information on the Scottish Government’s ‘Hungry for Success’ initiative should log on to www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/education/hfs-00.asp and the West of Scotland Food Liaison Group survey into fat and sodium content of foods can be seen by logging on to www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/environmentalhealth.

August 2005