Children need the chance of a healthy start in life

Alan Milburn, Health Secretary

An evaluation of the pilot schemes found that four in five of the children took the fruit they were offered, and consumption was maintained over time.

Diet is believed to be one of the most important factors in the development of heart disease, and of many different types of cancer.

Survey gloom

Health Secretary Alan Milburn said: "Increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables is key to reaching our long-term targets in reducing deaths from cancer and heart disease.

"Children need the chance of a healthy start in life. This money will mean fruit gets to more children sooner.

"From 2004 all four to six-year-olds will be entitled to a piece of free fruit each day at school."

Schools minister Baroness Catherine Ashton said: "The findings of the first evaluation of the national school fruit scheme are positive and encouraging.

"They show children enjoy eating fruit when given the opportunity and that eating fruit has benefits that extend into the classroom, aiding learning."

A survey in 2000 suggested that children were only eating two portions of fruit and vegetables a day as opposed to the recommended five.

One in five children ate no fruit in a week and three in five ate no leafy green vegetables.

Other surveys have pointed to the evidence of a "couch potato" lifestyle.

British Heart Foundation Cardiac Nurse Melanie Raddon said: "This initiative has the power to encourage kids to start pestering their parents for 'bananas instead of biscuits' because if kids get used to the taste of fresh fruit at a young age they will begin to enjoy it and not see it as second best to junk food.

"At present only 17% of children eat fruit more than once a day, which is alarming when compared to the recommendation of at least five portions of fruit or veg' each day.

"Until children's eating habits move closer to this goal, initiatives such as 'fruit for schools' remain crucial if we are to reduce the massive burden of coronary heart disease in the UK."