Salford council is considering banning chip shops, kebab and fried chicken outlets and takeaways like McDonald’s from selling food to school children before 5pm.
“We don’t think they should be serving hot food over the counter before 5pm near schools, as children should be encouraged to eat healthily, so we have made this clear in our proposal,” said Salford in council’s Margaret Morris.
Chip shop owner Vas Felini told the Manchester Evening News “Fish and chips is traditional. Nothing is more healthy than fresh fish. And chips cooked the right way are nutritious. It should be down to kids’ parents what they eat.”
Could the chip ban be introduced in London too? City councils have recently been concerned with fast food shops opening up, with a surge in new shops blamed for children suffering from obesity problems and unhealthy diets.
“There’s a particular issue with young people whose health can be damaged in the long term if they have an unhealthy diet. I’d like to see efforts made to reduce the number [of fast food shops] near schools.” said Croydon North MP Steve Reed last month.
A spokesperson for Croydon council said “We are considering using planning powers to control the number of fast-food shops.”
The number of Croydon’s chicken and kebab shops have doubled to 246 since 2008.
Waltham Forest Council requested in 2009 that a new fast food shop in Leytonstone move its premises due to a ban on takeaways opening within 400 metres of schools in the area.
