Free fruit scheme for pupils axed due to wastage

A pilot scheme offering free fruit to children will not be expanded because it is not popular enough, according to a Jersey minister.

Since 2024 children in four primary schools have been able to get apples, bananas and other fruit.

However, Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning Catherine Curtis said there had only been a "modest increase" in children eating fruit since the start of the scheme.

The government announced in September fresh fruit would be included in a school food programme which provides hot school meals for government primary schools.

Curtis said this was because the free fruit scheme was leading to "a lot of wastage" and parents "actually asked" for fruit to be incorporated into the school food programme instead.

"While well-received by pupils, parents and staff, and successful in raising awareness of healthy eating, it resulted in only modest increases in fruit consumption," she said.

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