Schools 'not in charge' of healthy diet

Forcing students to eat healthy food is not the responsibility of schools, NSW Education Minister John Della Bosca says.

Media reports on Tuesday say children are snubbing healthy foods at canteens for off-campus fast food outlets and pizza deliveries to schools.

Government and private schools began phasing in healthy food regimens at canteens nearly four years ago, amid rising evidence of a childhood obesity epidemic.

This year all sugar soft drinks were banned.

But schoolchildren are reportedly tiring of salads and wraps, and taking alternate measures to acquire fast food.

Mr Della Bosca said his department would look into the allegations but canteens were not responsible for mandating healthy eating.

"Kids obviously are exposed to the full range of takeaway food options and dietary options that are out there in the general community," he told ABC Radio.

"If kids are going and ordering pizzas, ordering other foods, I'm happy to look into that but I have to say, we put a lot of pressure on teachers, we put a lot of pressure on the school system.

"Is it the responsibility of schools ... to provide a healthy choice?"

One school canteen operator said students' actions to avoid healthy foods were a "slap in the face" but she agreed with the minister's views.

"As soon as you ban something with kids it makes it more attractive," the woman told ABC radio.

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