On Facebook, education minister slammed for ‘unrealistic’ ban on Christmas party food

Education minister Evarist Bartolo's comments on Facebook attracted a deluge of critics who vented their frustration after healthy eating rules were imposed on school Christmas parties

People have taken to Facebook to vent their frustration after rules on healthy eating in schools were also applied to this year's Christmas parties
People have taken to Facebook to vent their frustration after rules on healthy eating in schools were also applied to this year's Christmas parties

Evarist Bartolo has been at the receiving end of a barrage of criticism after his ministry decided to apply its healthy eating policy even during school Christmas parties, to control the consumption of certain foods in schools.

The rules, which include lists of permissible and prohibited foods and drinks, had been proposed in draft form since 2008, but only came into effect through a legal notice in September.

According to the legal notice, school canteens caught breaking the regulations could be subjected to an administrative fine of €100, or up to €2,500 in case of a repeated instance of a breach.

The list of "prohibited" foods includes things such as pastizzi and potato chips, which are party staples, while the "allowed" list includes "pizza with healthy toppings" and couscous.

While the initiative can indeed promote healthier living, people on social media felt the whole idea had been taken too far when the Education Ministry decided that the rules would also apply to this year's holiday season parties.

Taking to Facebook, several people voiced their opinions on what they felt was the Education Minister’s apparent lack of common sense in not making an exception for the festivities.

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“I find it totally unrealistic,” one woman wrote, “…I myself and my family live a very healthy life… but we also like to let our hair down once in a while and enjoy treats together, mostly because I find that the more I prohibit my daughter the more she craves [such food].”

A mother, venting her frustration, said “My son came back from his school party having ate nothing… How is it possible that you felt that children having a few pastizzi would have been too much? The Christmas party is only held once a year”.

“I don’t worry if my children have a few pastizzi at a party… What worries me is the quality of the air, which our children inhale with every breath they take, and which is getting worse,” a father wrote.

Some people also offered some sensible suggestions on how children’s overall health can be improvd in Malta. “I think that PE lessons should be held every day, because students spend a lot of time sitting down in class… A pizza once in a while won’t cause obesity in children, if they are active.”

“Minister Bartolo, to tackle the problem of overweight children you need to offer them more chance for physical activity and create places where parents can take them to play…,” someone else said, “The school party will surely have no effect on obesity [overall].”

“Balance and moderation is the key,” another comment read, “Monitoring and controlling food intake throughout the year is one thing (and totally commendable), but denying treats at a party can backfire and send a very wrong message.”