Curriculum: Learning, Teaching and Assessment > School Health and Wellbeing initiatives > Smart Choices - Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy for Queensland Schools > Frequently Asked Questions >

Classification of food and drinks

Q: What is confectionery?

A: Confectionery includes chocolates, carob and yoghurt based confectionery, and all types of lollies such as boiled lollies, cough lollies, liquorice, lollies made from fruit juice, and jelly lollies. All confectionery falls into the RED category of the Smart Choices Food and Drink Spectrum.

However, foods containing confectionery, such as chocolate chip cookies, muffins or snack bars, may not fall into the RED category. These foods need to be assessed against the appropriate category in the 'Occasional' food and drink criteria table on page 15 in Smart Choices.

Q: Why are lollies containing yoghurt and fruit juice in the RED category?

A: These lollies contain minimal nutritional value. Smart Choices includes examples of good sources of milk, yoghurt, cheese and alternatives, and fruit; for example, one 200g tub of reduced fat yoghurt, one piece of fruit or cup of fruit juice.

Q: What types of drinks are the healthiest options for children and young people?

A: Water, and plain and flavoured milks are the healthiest drinks for children and young people and should be readily available and promoted in schools. Fruit juices, and fruit drinks are high in acid and can contribute to tooth decay if consumed regularly.

Q: Can we supply full-fat milk products to students?

A: Yes, under the Smart Choices strategy full-fat milk products are classified as Amber products and are therefore not limited in their supply in schools, but should be selected carefully. Reduced-fat milk products are classified as Green products and are healthier choices for children. The Australian Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents (2003), developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council, recommends that the consumption of reduced fat milk products is encouraged in children over two years of age to reduce saturated fat intake.

Q: What does 'sugar-sweetened drinks and ices' mean?

A: 'Sugar-sweetened drinks and ices' refers to drinks and ices where a sweetener has been added. A range of ingredients are used by manufacturers to sweeten drinks and ices including sucrose (commonly called sugar), fructose, glucose, fruit juice, and fruit juice concentrate. Drinks and ices sweetened with any of these ingredients must be assessed against the 'Occasional' food and drink criteria table in Smart Choices. A product that claims on the label that it contains "no added sugar" may still be sweetened with a fruit juice concentrate.

Examples of sweetened drinks and ices include soft drinks, flavoured mineral waters, energy drinks, sports drinks, fruit drinks, sports waters, iced teas, slushees, ice blocks and water/fruit-based ice confections.

Sweetened drinks and ices with an energy (kilojoule) content greater than 300kJ or sodium content greater than 100mg per serve will fit into the RED category of the Smart Choices Food and Drink Spectrum. Drinks and ices containing artificial sweeteners also fall into the RED category.

Plain waters, plain and flavoured milks, plain and flavoured soy drinks, and fruit juices do not need to be assessed against the 'Occasional' food and drink criteria table.

Q: Is the maximum serve size for fruit drinks 250mls and do fruit drinks have to be assessed against the Occasional (RED) food and drink criteria table.

A: Fruit drinks DO need to be assessed against the Occasional (RED) food and drink criteria table. One serving needs to contain less than 300 kilojoules and 100mg of sodium to fit in the AMBER category. It is recommended that the serve size of fruit drinks is limited to 250mls or less, however, depending on the ingredients used, some large serve sizes may still fit into the AMBER category - check the label against the Occasional (RED) food and drink criteria table. Drinks containing artificial sweeteners fit into the RED category regardless of their energy (kilojoule) content or serve size.

Q: Is the maximum serve size for fruit juices 250mls?

A: No, chilled and frozen fruit juices of any serve size will fall into the AMBER category and therefore DO NOT have to be assessed against the Occasional (RED) food and drink criteria table. However, it is recommended that the serve size is limited to 250mls or less as large serve sizes can contribute excess energy (kilojoules).

Q. How is jelly classified under Smart Choices?

A. Jelly is not specifically mentioned in Smart Choices. Plain jelly on its own is likely to fall into the RED category. Jelly served with low-fat custard, low-fat yoghurt or fruit is likely to be classified as AMBER. These classifications may be subject to change in the future.

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