Effect of Ending the Nationwide Free School Fruit Scheme on the Intake of Fruits, Vegetables, and Unhealthy Snacks in Norwegian School Children Aged 10–12 Years

Helene Kristin Richardsen, Elling Tufte Bere, Tonje Holte Stea, Knut-Inge Klepp and Dagrun Engeset ()
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Helene Kristin Richardsen: Department of Nutrition and Public Health, University of Agder, 4630 Kristiansand, Norway
Elling Tufte Bere: Department of Sport Science and Physical Education, University of Agder, 4630 Kristiansand, Norway
Tonje Holte Stea: Department of Health and Nursing Sciences, University of Agder, 4630 Kristiansand, Norway
Knut-Inge Klepp: Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0213 Oslo, Norway
Dagrun Engeset: Department of Nutrition and Public Health, University of Agder, 4630 Kristiansand, Norway

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: The Norwegian authorities started a nationwide free school fruit program in 2007, implemented in all secondary schools (grades 8–10) and combined schools (grades 1–10) in Norway. The program ended in 2014. This study evaluates the effect of ending the nationwide free school fruit program on the consumption of fruit, vegetables, and unhealthy snacks among Norwegian sixth and seventh graders. The study sample consists of pupils at 18 schools that participated in all data collections in the Fruits and Vegetables Make the Marks project (FVMM), initiated in 2001, with new data collections in 2008 and 2018. Four of the schools were combined schools, therefore children in sixth and seventh grade at these schools received free fruit in 2008 (intervention schools), and fourteen schools did not (control schools). Between 2008 and 2018, pupils at the intervention schools ate a lower proportion of fruits and vegetables per school week, and the consumption of unhealthy snacks increased compared to the control schools. Completion of the free fruit program was not significantly different for boys and girls, or low and high parental education. The results indicate that the end of the free school fruit program resulted in less healthy eating habits among children.

Keywords: school children; withdrawal; fruit and vegetable intake; school fruit program; Norway (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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