The National Institute for Student Welfare (Inabie) says it has eliminated fruit juices in breakfasts served to more than 1.4 million students.
The measure was carried out after the new administration that runs the institution received reports these drinks were contributing to an increase in overweight and obesity rates.
A study carried out together with Ministry of Public Health revealed the negative consequences of excess sugar for health, explained Víctor Castro, executive director of Inabie.
The nectars were served in 200-milliliter packages that contained an average of between 20 and 23 grams of sugar. That is, in a single drink a day the students were consuming quantities close to the limit allowed for 24 hours a day by the World Health Organization (WHO), which ideally is about 25 grams of sugar for a child who consumes about 2000 calories on average.
Castro highlighted that to replace these nectars, a project was started to serve fresh fruits instead at more than 5,000 public schools nationwide.
Currently, the Dominican Republic maintains leadership in the Caribbean region in terms of coverage of the School Feeding Program (PAE), which represents one of the most effective tools to combat malnutrition, providing healthier diets and nutritional education.
Read more in Spanish:
Inabie
El Caribe
5 March 2024