Education Ministry to ban unhealthy foods from schools

The Ministry of Education has announced plans to ban the sale of unhealthy foods at Czech schools. Minister Marcel Chládek said on Tuesday that the ban – which also concerns drinks – would come into effect either at the start of the next school year or in January 2015. Mr. Chládek said he had been disturbed by a recent survey that found that 86 percent of vending machines in schools offered chocolate bars and sweets, while over half contained sandwiches and 19 percent sold crisps. The ban is part of an Education Ministry strategy to foster healthy life styles among the young.