Argumentative Essay - Junk Food # Final Version

Should the sale of junk food in school canteens be banned?

Junk food is to be faulted for the increase in childhood obesity (Smith 2005). As such, suggestion for the sale of junk food to be banned in school canteens had been voiced out as a way to tackle the problem on obesity. However, there seems to be contradicting opinions in the society. Nonetheless, whatever decision that the society will choose, I strongly believe that junk food should be banned not only because it is contributing to problem of youth weight gain (Tran 2005) but it also contains minimal or no nutritional value and it contributes to litter problems.

The main reason that junk food should be banned in school canteen is because of junk food’s high contribution to the increasing childhood obesity. Obesity problem arises because children nowadays are lacked of physical activities and are made worsen as children are on high consumption on junk food which is high in fat, salt and sugar (Tran 2005). Statistic by Australian Nutrition Journal (2004) reveals that more than 50% of children consumed sugar and almost 50% of children consumed fat more than the recommended intake. By canteen tenants selling junk food, they are actually contributing to the problem of youth weight gain (Tran 2005). This is all the more reason that the sale of junk food should be banned.

Furthermore, junk food is unhealthy and contains minimal nutritional value. Most junk food commonly contains synthetic flavour enhancer, colouring, and preservative which are proven to cause behavioural problems in children as said by Smith (2005). Students are said to be hyperactive and have poor concentration in class. According to The Food Show (2005), students’ behaviour is seen to be improved tremendously after the removal of junk food in canteen. Moreover, sale of junk food is shown to be indirectly proportional to the dental health of Australia‘s primary school children (Tran 2005).

Besides, junk food is associated with litter problems. Children tend to throw the packaging on the floor rather than finding rubbish bin to throw the packaging away. This resulted more money, time and effort to be spent for cleaning which supposedly can be used to do something more productive such as spending time on maintenance projects (The Food Show 2005). With rubbish around us, our communities’ images may be tarnished as outsiders will view us as unhygienic people (Smith 2005).

To summarize, sale of junk food should be banned in school canteen as consumption of junk food brings plenty of negative consequences such as obesity problem, litter problem and behavioural problem. Undeniably, the sale of junk food generates plenty of money for school which can be used to improve school’s condition however there are other expenses incurred such as cleaning cost and dental payment making it such a way that disadvantages of junk food overrides the advantages. We have to look at the bigger picture such as the effects of consumption of junk food in future, thus sacrifices need to be made. As said by Tran (2005, p.6), “it is a small price to pay, for the future health of our nation”.