ECC calls for pause on lunchbox rules

Under the new rules raw carrot and apple must be grated for children under three. File image/SunLive.

The Early Childhood Council is calling for the implementation of new early learning centre food safety rules to be paused so that issues that have emerged through its roll out can be worked through.

The issue is about preventing children from choking, whether that's on food or any small object. That's what makes this a wider health and safety issue to manage.

The rules from the Ministry of Education take effect on January 25 and ban early childhood education centres from feeding children risky foods such as whole nuts, chips, dried fruits and sausages.

The ministry also provides instructions on how some non-banned foods should be prepared such as grating raw carrot and apple for children under three or removing strong fibres from 'stringy foods” such as pineapple for children up to age six.

"A growing number of issues continue to arise that suggest this matter has not been well thought through and is being rushed by the Ministry of Education,” says ECC CEO Peter Reynolds.

As an example, if an early learning centre has fruit trees or a vege patch growing on their grounds, do they have to rip them out by Monday, says Peter.

"We need to take a step back. If legislation already exists to prevent children from choking on food or any other object, why would we introduce new rules to confuse the issue? This needs to be considered more carefully."

The ECC has written to the Minister of Education asking for the rules' roll out to be paused while the issues are reconsidered, because they address issues already covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act. This Act requires all businesses, including early learning centres, to identify hazards and risks and make a plan to mitigate them.

"There are too many questions to be worked through for this to be effective. Again, we sympathise with anyone affected by incidents leading to this food safety review, more time and consideration is needed to get this right," says Peter.

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