QC Health Dep’t bans soft drinks, chips from being sold in school canteens

Softdrinks, chips, instant noodles, cakes, and donuts are among the food and drink items that have been banned by the Quezon City Health Department from being sold in school canteens and stores.

The department on Monday released its list of foods that may be sold in school canteens and those that may not, in accordance with the Quezon City Anti-Junk Food and Sugary Drinks Ordinance of 2017, which states that "canteens in public and private elementary and high schools, as well as preparatory schools, and stores within 100 meters from school premises should only sell nutritious food."

According to City Health Department chief Dr. Verdades P. Linga, "Dumarami na ang datos na nagsasabing ang diabetes at hypertension ay nagsisimula na sa murang edad. Kung hindi natin ito gagawan ng aksyon, magkakaroon tayo ng siyudad na ang mga bata natin o mamamayan ay maagang magkakasakit at hindi maging productive."

The following items are allowed to be sold in school canteens and stores:

• Milled, brown rice; iron-fortified rice
• Fried rice (plain)
• Corn (boiled)
• Oatmeal
• Whole wheat bread pandesal
• Biscuits (no filling)
• Bread buns
• Breadstick
• Bread (e.g. pinaputok, monay, or any "unfilled bread")
• Plain cupcakes (no filling)
• Cornflakes (plain)
• Unflavored popcorn
• Empanada
• Pancake (no syrup)
• Cheese waffles
• Sandwiches (cheese, egg, tuna, chicken filling, peanut butter)
• Boiled root crops (e.g. cassava/kamoteng kahoy, sweet potato/kamote, yam/gabi, taro, arrow root/uraro)
• Boiled saging na saba
• Boiled corn or nilagang mais
• Binatog
• Boiled peanuts
• Suman sa ibos
• Puto (with cheese), bibingka
• Kakanin (kutsinta, sapin sapin,biko, palitaw, nilupak)
• Squash maja
• Maja blanca (cornstarch)
• Ginataang bilo-bilo na may sago (with/without corn/ munggo)
• Saba con yelo
• Sotanghon (with vegetables)
• Pasta - spaghetti, lasagna, baked macaroni, carbonara
• Pancit canton.miki (with vegetables)
• Lomi
• Arroz caldo/lugaw/goto, champorado
• Macaroni soup/sopas (with vegetables)
• Misua (with vegetables)
• Pritong lumpiang togue, lumpiang ubod
• Stir-fried vegetables, fishes
• Shellfish
• Small shrimps
• Lean meat
• Chicken (without skin)
• Boiled/fried egg
• Green, leafy and yellow vegetables
• Fresh fruits
• Potable water
• Unflavored water
• Unsweetened milk
• Unsweetened fresh buko juices
• 100% fresh fruit juices

On the other hand, the following may not be sold in school canteens in the city:

• Food that are not indigenous
• Food that are not made of natural products
• Fortified food (e.g. "sitsirya", instant noodles)
• Low nutritional content, high in calories (above 40 kcal per 100 g (solids), 20 kcal per 100 ml (liquid)
• High salt (above 120mg/100g)
• High fat (above 3 g per 100 g (solids), 1.5 g per 100 ml (liquids)
• Boiled quail eggs
• Pre-packaged snack food (e.g. chips, chicharon)
• Processed food (hotdogs, sausage, burger patties, chicken nuggets, tocino, tapa, corned beef bacon, longganisa)
• Jelly, ice crushes, slushies, ice cream, ice drops, ice candies
• Cakes, donuts, bicho-bicho, sweet biscuits and pastries, and other sweet bakery products
• Breadpan
• Chocolates, hard and chewy candies, chewing gums, marshmallows, lollipops, yemas
• Deep-fried food (e.g. french fries, shing-a-ling, fishballs, kikiam, tokneneng, squidballs, calamares, chicken skin, banana cue, camote cue, maruya, pilipit, karioka, turon)
• soft drinks or colas
• any liquid substances made for drinking which are carbon-based
• Alcoholic drinks
• Sports water
• Vitamin water
• Cultured milk
• Sports drinks
• Flavored mineral water
• Energy drinks
• Electrolyte water
• Sweetened milk
• Chocolate drinks
• Lemonade and other "ades"
• Sweetened water
• Powdered juice drinks
• Fruit juices
• Palamig (e.g. shakes, fruit punches)
• Caffeine-containing drinks
• Any processed fruit/vegetable juice with added sugar of more than 20 grams or 4 teaspoons per serving

Additionally, condiments (such as toyo and patis) are not allowed on dining tables.

Cooking methods are required to have little to no fat oil which is limited to steaming, boiling, sautéeing, pan frying, and baking.

Processed foods are not allowed to be used as ingredients.

Visible fat and skin of the meat should be removed before cooking and artificial flavors should be avoided.

A focal person appointed by the school principal will monitor the school's compliance of the ordinance.

The school canteen's daily menu should also be posted in front of the canteen and advertisements from junk foods and sugary drinks are prohibited.

“Magkaagapay po tayo, magkatulong tayo ng mga magulang at lokal na pamahalaan ng Quezon City upang maitaguyod ang isang mamamayan na malusog kaya nananawagan ako na kung puwede po sana, wag na po nating bentahan ang mga bata ng sugary drinks at yung junkfoods,” Linga added. — Maia Tria/BM, GMA News