Dr Lorane Moodie Reid, principal of Albion Primary and Junior High in St James, admits that students are allowed to purchase beverages that exceed the sugar level allowed by the Government at her school, but is faulting a chronic supply shortage for the breach.
The ban on sugary drinks came into effect just over three years ago amid a push by the health ministry to encourage healthier eating habits among the nation’s school population and at public health facilities after concerns were raised about an uptick in cases of obesity among children.
But a Sunday Gleaner undercover investigation at three St James schools and the Montego Bay Comprehensive Health Centre, popularly called the Type 5 Clinic, revealed that while efforts were being made to adhere to the rules, the prohibited products are still available.
At the Albion Road-based school, students were sitting exams when our news team visited on Thursday morning. The doors of the tuck shop were closed, but the operator admitted that beverages on sale included some with high sugar content.
The label on a bottle of soda purchased showed a serving size of 240 millilitres with 27 grams of sugar, more than double the limit, having 11.25g per 100ml.
Moodie Reid, who has been the school’s headmistress for the past eight years, shared that it was not always possible to get low-sugar beverages in line with the ministry’s guidelines as the manufacturers have not been able to meet the demand of schools.
“First of all, the canteen is operated by a concessionaire,” Moodie Reid told The Sunday Gleaner, although concessionaires, canteens, school administration, teachers and also students are prohibited from selling the products on or directly outside the premises.
“We have been working with them, but I am aware that it happens occasionally, but not since we have returned to face-to-face classes,” she said, referring to the return of students to the physical classroom after being online for two years due to the pandemic.
“We know what the guidelines are and we have met with our concessionaire on the matter. It is just that we must make it an ongoing discussion. I don’t know about the sodas, but I know about some that are not so sweet.”
Wednesdays are celebrated as ‘Water Wednesdays’ at Albion Primary and Junior High, when the students can only purchase water or bring water from home, Moodie Reid shared, pointing out that some parents purchase the banned beverages for their children to take to school.
NOT HEALTHY
At Green Pond High School, one student said that sodas were not sold on the compound.
“The canteen does not open until lunchtime and they only sell water, box drinks, and orange juice,” the well-mannered male student at the school gate offered.
The Sunday Gleaner was unable to examine the sugar content of those products, however.
But students are exposed to an array of sweet beverages sold by three vendors located about 20 metres from the entrance.
As this reporter attempted to purchase a soda from one of the vendors, the male student insisted that a healthier drink would be more beneficial.
“It is best you buy a Minute Maid than the soda because it is healthier,” the youngster advised.
Attempts to speak with Oraine Ebanks, principal at Green Pond, were unsuccessful.
Sodas are not sold on the compound of the Type 5 Clinic located in the Montego Bay commercial district, but an energy drink at more than twice the allowable limit, with a serving size of 360 millilitres and having a sugar content of 41 grams – at 11.39g per 100ml – was on sale.
When contacted, St Andrade Sinclair, regional director of the Western Regional Health Authority, referred the news team to Lennox Wallace, parish manager for St James Health Services, but he could not be reached.
At the Catherine Hall Primary and Infant School, Valrie Chambers, who was packing up her goods early Wednesday morning, said sales have not been encouraging.
“They (students) don’t come out and buy from us [during school hours] any more, so we just try to sell what we can when they are coming to school or in the evening when they are going home,” she told The Sunday Gleaner.
Quizzed if she sells the banned products, Chambers says although she is located in the vicinity of the school, she also caters to other customers.
“Yes, I sell soda and different kinds,” she said. “There are times when the student or a parent orders a soda. I am here to earn, so I am not going to turn down a sale.”
Principal says getting healthier products often a challenge - Jamaica Gleaner
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