UK school children have consumed almost 20 million portions of free fruit and vegetables through a major grocery giveaway that teachers say is transforming classroom behaviour.
Up to 186,000 pupils have benefited from the fresh produce over the last two years, eating more than 1,500 tonnes of healthy snacks instead of sweets.
Teachers report improved behaviour
Tesco said 90% of teachers surveyed said the daily delivery of fresh food has directly led to improved behaviour, sharper focus, and more energy during lessons. The retail giant said teachers surveyed during the research said the scheme had made a positive difference to their pupils.
The produce is provided through Tesco's Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, backed by the British Nutrition Foundation, which has now been expanded to reach more than 1,000 schools across the country.
Health boost and new tastes
An impact report on the scheme's first two years revealed the snacks have delivered a serious health boost. Kids taking part saw their Vitamin C intake jump by 4.2% last year, while fibre, Vitamin A, and energy-boosting folate also saw significant increases. On average, participating pupils ate 60 portions of fruit and veg each.
With the purchasing power handed over to the schools and pupils, receipts showed youngsters sampled 103 different types of fresh produce. While everyday staples like apples, bananas, carrots and cucumbers topped the popularity list, the scheme has also encouraged children to try more unusual or pricier produce that can be hard to access on a restricted budget, such as blueberries, asparagus and watermelon.
School and charity leaders respond
Elaine McCallum, deputy head teacher at Cleeves Primary School in Glasgow, said the daily deliveries are a lifeline for some families: "Having access to fruit every day makes a real difference," she said. "For some of our children, it may be the only fruit they have that day, so making sure everyone can have a healthy snack is really important."
Claire de Silva, head of communities at Tesco, said the supermarket is extending the scheme this academic year to reach even more children in the UK's most challenged communities. She added: "Schools continue to tell us what a positive impact the programme has made on their children, including sharper focus, more energy and better behaviour."
Elaine Hindal, chief executive of the British Nutrition Foundation, said she was incredibly encouraged by the results. "We know that eating well can support children's health, wellbeing and ability to learn, but that access to healthy food can be a challenge," she said. "We're proud to work with Tesco on an initiative that is helping more children enjoy healthy foods and build positive eating habits that can last a lifetime."
