Labour’s PC food rules prompt birthday cake ban

Anne Tolley
National Party Education Spokeswoman

4 April 2008

Labour’s PC food rules prompt birthday cake ban

Labour’s draconian school food rules are to blame for an Auckland school becoming the ‘Birthday Grinch’, says National’s Education spokeswoman, Anne Tolley.

Mrs Tolley is referring to Oteha Valley School’s decision to ban pupils from bringing cake to school to share with their friends on their special day.

“This ludicrous decision is a direct result of the paranoia that has been generated by Labour’s national healthy eating guidelines, which are due to come into force in June.

“Labour’s ridiculous PC prescription, which assumes that teachers and parents are stupid and neglectful, was always going to result in silly decisions being made.

“What is New Zealand coming to when a Kiwi kid can’t share a piece of birthday cake with his or her friends?

“Labour‘s programme of removing the fun factor from our lives has, sadly, now crept into schools, denying kids from being kids.”

Mrs Tolley says the reality is, it’s what children are eating at home and what ends up in their lunchboxes that contributes to childhood obesity.

“It’s not the occasional piece of cake. Labour’s wishy washy food rules have created a climate of fear in schools where even celebrating birthdays has become a no-no.”

ENDS