Minister for Public Health and Sport launches primary school resources for Children at the Dundee Flower and Food Festival

Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health and Sport, today (Friday 3 September) launched a new educational resource for 3 to 12 year olds. These resources were developed as a result of feedback from teachers highlighting a shortage of resources that raise awareness of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) messages on diet, nutrition and food safety.

This new resource consists of an assortment of board and card games designed to support the learning outcomes of the Scottish Government’s Curriculum for Excellence and the FSA's Food Competencies.

The FSA has made a commitment to distribute a set of board and card games to all primary educational establishments in Scotland during the 2010 school year. These will be distributed to either local authorities or direct to schools, depending on local preferences. Schools and local authorities will be asked for feedback on the games over the next two years.

Shona Robison said: 'This fantastic resource will help young Scots learn about eating healthily and safely in a fun way.

'This is a great example of the wide range of initiatives we are taking forward that are aimed at getting kids excited about being active and eating a healthy balanced diet.'

'Obesity is an increasing problem in Scotland and it is incredibly important that children are taught the skills to live full, healthy and active lives. Resources like these have an important part to play in helping children take these lessons on board for a healthy future.'

Dundee City Council Education Convener Councillor Liz Fordyce said: 'This is an imaginative way to teach children important lessons about nutrition and food safety.

'We are very proud that Dundee schools helped in the pilot to bring this resource to fruition. I am sure that this resource will be very helpful for pupils and teachers.'

Charles Milne, Director, Food Standards Agency, said: 'It is important that children learn about food safety and nutrition from as early an age as possible.

'These resources will provide a fun interactive way for children to learn about the Agency’s key messages on healthy eating and food safety. It can also be used to support primary school teachers in their everyday classroom activities.

'Consumers visiting this weekend’s festival will also be able to find out how to avoid food poisoning and eat more healthily, by visiting the Food Standards Agency in Scotland’s interactive stands in the children’s and food marquees.'

There will be an opportunity for children and adults to test their knowledge on a variety of touchscreen interactive games aimed at helping children and families make safe and healthier choices, as well as taking the hand wash challenge where visitors can test their hand-washing technique under an ultraviolet light to check where bugs might lurk unseen.

The outdoor 'FSAS Football Challenge' in the Children’s Activity Area will be making a return appearance at the festival, providing families with a fun way of learning about food safety and healthy eating while also working on their football skills.

• The launch will take place in the Events Marquee at the Dundee Flower and Food Festival at 1pm on Friday 3 September 2010.
• Photographs of the launch can be supplied on the day via email.
• The resource was piloted in Moray Council and Dundee City Council schools in 2008. There was an excellent uptake of schools volunteering to be part of the pilot in both local authorities.
• The Food Standards Agency in Scotland supports the Scottish Government's Preventing Overweight and Obesity in Scotland (see link below) and the Scottish Governments Recipe for Success – Scotland’s National Food and Drink Policy (see link below).
• The Agency's eatwell website is a stand alone consumer advice and information site covering nutrition, food, hygiene and food labelling issues. The Agency's main web-based source of food news and in-depth reports, guidance and scientific research can be found on this website.
• The FSA is an independent UK wide Government department set up as a food safety watchdog to protect the public’s health and consumer interests in relation to food.