Health and wellness minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton, says some schools have been flouting the ban on sugary drinks since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He was giving an update on the ban as well as the Nutrition in Schools Policy during a joint media briefing with the Ministry of Education Wednesday morning.
The sugary drinks ban as implemented four years ago in schools and public health institutions.
Dr. Tufton says a rapid assessment of how the ban was being observed was done at the end of the last academic year.
Dr. Tufton says students’ desire for sugary drinks was another reason given by schools for non-compliance.
The minister noted that some manufacturers have adjusted to providing non-sugary drinks to the institutions.
Meanwhile, Dr. Tufton says the ministries will be closely monitoring schools and public health institutions on breaches of the regulations.
He also appealed to manufacturers to be socially responsible for the well-being of Jamaican children.
Dr. Christopher Tufton, health and wellness minister.
