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Hundreds of schools in free fruit initiative

Moves towards healthier eating are bearing fruit with last week's launch of a Government initiative for schools. More than 80,000 four-to six-year-olds in 510 schools across England are included in the National School Fruit Scheme, following pilot schemes at 33 schools in London and Leicester. It is the biggest Government programme to improve child health and nutrition since the introduction of free school milk in 1946. The Government's target is to provide every child in nursery and infant school up to six years old with free fruit by 2004.

More than 80,000 four-to six-year-olds in 510 schools across England are included in the National School Fruit Scheme, following pilot schemes at 33 schools in London and Leicester. It is the biggest Government programme to improve child health and nutrition since the introduction of free school milk in 1946. The Government's target is to provide every child in nursery and infant school up to six years old with free fruit by 2004.

Health secretary Alan Milburn said, 'I want every child to get the best start in life. Children from the poorest families eat less fruit and vegetables. People from the poorest areas also have the highest rates of cancer and heart disease. We will provide a boost for 80,000 children in the poorest areas from today.'

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