The humble ham and cheese toasted sandwich has been placed on the restricted food list at school canteens, banning kids from ordering the beloved lunchtime favourite.
An overhaul of Western Australia’s school food and drink rules has come into effect weeks after the controversial recommendations effectively banning ham were handed down to schools in December.
Under the new rules, ham is now considered ‘red’ in its traffic light classification of canteen items sold to students statewide.
Since 2007, canteen menu items have been labelled green for nutritious, amber for occasional while red items such as chips, lollies and other junk food are banned from sale.
Ham and cheese toasties were previously rated green while a plain ham sandwich was classified as amber – to be eaten in moderation, but was still allowed to be sold every day.
Changes to Western Australia ‘s school food and drink rules have come in to play since recommendations were given to schools in December, effectively banning ham
The new system has ham as rated red, effectively taking it off canteen menus altogether.
There is an exception for several expensive low-fat low-salt products restricted to two days a week.
According to a new ‘foodchecker’ online tool for canteens, there are now a whopping 20 ham products rated red and banned from sale.
Only three ham products, are in a category called ‘selected red’, which means they have met strict nutritional standards and can be sold two days a week.
WA School Canteen Association chief executive Megan Sauzier said she understood the reasoning behind the decision, but believes the decision isn’t in the interest of schools.
She believes it is unrealistic for canteens to get rid of toasted ham and cheese sandwiches, with them being fine they were part of an overall diet of healthy eating.
”We’ve already made lots of headway because schools don’t have salami and mortadella, and we don’t have deep-fried chips, we have no soft drink, no confectionery — do we need to get rid of ham as well? I’m not sure,’ she told The West Australian.
Western Australian students can no order the humble ham and cheese toastie (stock photo)
The changes have also seen sausage rolls and pies, including the previously amber- rated reduced fat versions, and oven-baked wedges reclassified as ‘selected red items’.
Additionally, all cakes and biscuits have gone from amber to red, while full-fat diary products like milk, yoghurt and cheese have moved the other way – from amber to green.
Ms Sauzier called for a longer transition period because the changes were causing confusion for suppliers and canteen workers.
She thinks some of the changes were positive such as making full-fat dairy go from amber to green, as it’s based on the latest health evidence.
But there is concern over other items, like fruit juice slushies now being red, but the unfrozen form still being amber.
Some flavoured waters went from red to green.
A Western Australia Health Department fact sheet says the the new school food and drink rules started at the start of Term 1, but schools didn’t have a deadline for implementing them.
Education Department deputy director general Jim Bell told The West Australian some amber foods are now red.
‘However, this does not represent a ban on these reclassified foods. It signals that there are healthier choices that can be made, although these foods can still be sold as long as the menu is still made up of 60 per cent of foods rated as green,’ he said.
Ham and cheese toasties were previously rated green in WA school canteens but have since been banned
Mr Bell added that schools should consult parents to find out which foods everyone is comfortable having on the menu.
He said the new policy was about assisting canteens to promote healthy options without restricting popular items or compromising a school’s profit.
Fresh School Nutrition Advisory Program manager Aisling Pawlowski said the reclassifications were in line with Australian dietary guidelines and international evidence.
‘The announcement of any change can be challenging and cause concern. However, thanks to funding from the WA Department of Health, FreshSNAP is available to all school canteens to support them in implementing the required changes,’ she said.
While the overhaul has sparked outrage among parents, the new rules could be a step in the right direction as consuming too much processed meats, like ham, has been proven to increase the risk of bowel cancer.
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