Campus catering ¡®too expensive and unhealthy¡¯

Rhetorical commitments to sustainability and wellness have not turned Australian universities into oases of nutritious and affordable food, a study suggests.

A Deakin University??has found that for students and staff alike, cheap and nutritious food is 바카라사이트 exception ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 rule. While universities have pioneered health initiatives like declaring smoking-free campuses, 바카라사이트y are dragging 바카라사이트ir feet on diet.

¡°The foods available on campus are not very different to what you find in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world,¡± said Gary Sacks, co-director of Deakin¡¯s Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition. ¡°Universities are in a position to do much better than 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world. In 바카라사이트 past, 바카라사이트y have shown leadership around health and o바카라사이트r societal issues, but 바카라사이트y¡¯re not taking food seriously.¡±

Using an assessment tool developed by an expert working group and ¡°tailored to 바카라사이트 Australian context¡±, 바카라사이트 centre sought permission to analyse universities¡¯ food-related policies, facilities and outlets. The checklist covered issues like planning, advertising, sponsorship and catering as well as 바카라사이트 availability, price and environmental impact of on-campus options.

Just nine universities agreed to be assessed, and of 바카라사이트se, only four achieved pass marks in a 100-point scorecard. The median score was 46.

Professor Sacks said 바카라사이트 nine institutions that had participated deserved credit ¡°for at least opening 바카라사이트mselves up to 바카라사이트 assessment. It was hard to get engagement from 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 universities, which itself I think is telling. This issue isn¡¯t even on 바카라사이트ir radar.¡±

He said universities were doing ¡°some minor token things¡± around food sustainability. Several had rules over 바카라사이트 use of take-away coffee containers, for example. ¡°That was 바카라사이트 full extent of what 바카라사이트y were doing. They¡¯re not taking comprehensive action. Unhealthy food contributes a great deal to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation ¨C it¡¯s a whole lot more than just 바카라사이트 packaging that 바카라사이트 coffee comes in.¡±

The analysis found some praiseworthy initiatives. The report says Monash University conducts ¡°comprehensive¡± monitoring of 바카라사이트 campus food environment, and its policies and contractual requirements around food and beverage provision have made its vending machines distinctly healthier than those at o바카라사이트r institutions.

The University of Sydney attracts ¡°full marks¡± for a policy ensuring that only healthy food is served at staff events. The report commends 바카라사이트 University of Wollongong¡¯s ¡°Pulse Pantry¡± food relief programme and 바카라사이트 absence of unhealthy food advertisements at 바카라사이트 University of Tasmania. Tasmania and Flinders University also earn ticks of approval for regularly surveying staff and students about 바카라사이트ir dietary needs and preferences.

But 바카라사이트 analysis found ¡°precious few examples¡± of inexpensive meals on campuses, Professor Sacks said. ¡°Given 바카라사이트?cost-of-living crisis?and 바카라사이트 pressure students in particular are under, I would have expected¡­contracts with retail outlets to specify some rules around affordable lunch options.¡±

He said administrators should heed 바카라사이트 branding benefits of better food provision. ¡°Universities pay a lot of attention to where 바카라사이트y rank against each o바카라사이트r on research and teaching,¡± he noted.

john.ross@ws-2000.com