Pupil food pill plan 'considered'

[Brook]

Hi all,

 

what do you think of this?

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/5071102.stm

 

Brook

[KarenT]

I personally object to the 'Big Brother' style "you will take this pill because we say so". It raises questions about how much O3 is too much, what about those children who already take the supplement at home? There are already questions about the appropriate ratios of O3 and O6, some say we shouldn't take additional supplements of O6 as there's enough in most people's diets anyway and that O3 is the one that's lacking, while others recommend a combined supplement. How would they decide what to give?! And who would decide anyway?

 

Also, some children with ASDs react badly to those supplements mixed with Evening Primrose Oil, which can make autistic behaviours more prominent, so they'd need to be clear about other ingredients. I can't see how they can apply this without an element of parental choice and consent.

 

Karen

x

[Kazzen161]

I don't know all the details, but my first thoughts were:

 

- do I want the Gov insisting my children take fish oils, even if they don't need it (one of my son's does, but the other two don't)

 

- if the Gov provide the fish oils, how will we know if they are of good quality/not contaminated (they are bound to go for the cheapest version!)

 

- how will they make the children take it, if they refuse?

 

Karen

[puffin]

Personally I'd prefer the government to sent me a smoked (or poached) salmon sandwich a few times a week

[aro]

children with epilepsy can't have EPO either and many o3/6 supplements contain it and what about vegetarians?

Edited June 12, 2006 by aro

[adamsmum]

My boys eat fresh fish every week so if thay had supplements would that not be a bit much. I dont wont my boys taking vitamins if i did i would go and buy them

[Daisydot]

I have had both my children on Omega 3 and 6 supplements for a while and it certainly seems to have helped one of them with being calmer. It did seem to make a difference which supplement he took though, one supplement seemed to make his symptoms worse, another one seemed to improve his behaviour.

 

I have been recommended (by a Nutritionist specialising in ASD) to try Arctic Cod Liver Oil for my other son who has severe language difficulties. Supposedly, it helps with language and visual problems. We are trying this now and it has not had any bad effects so far - probably too early to comment on success).

 

Did I also read somewhere that Omegas are supposed to help with depression, or was I dreaming ?

Perhaps they should offer it to parents of ASD children having to go to totally unsupportive mainstream schools. Bucketload for me please !

 

Personally, I would be happy to have my children given Omega's at school, but I would also wish to have the right to withdraw my children from the scheme at any time, if I felt it wasnt right for my children.

 

Daisydot

[Daisydot]

Personally I'd prefer the government to sent me a smoked (or poached) salmon sandwich a few times a week

 

 

 

Yum Yum yes please for the smoked salmon sarnie, preferably with a glass of champagne too. I posted a reply before, but I have to say these Omega supplements are fairly vile to take, rather like swigging the juice from the bottom of a tin of sardines or tuna. YUK. The sarnies sound much better.

 

Daisydot

[Viper]

Sounds like we are going back to victorian times when kids were given Brimstone and treacle or when our grand parents/parents were forced to take cod liver oil.

 

I have no objections to kids being given supplements at school, but parents should be the ones to say if it's ok or not.

 

I just wish the government would provide sun cream on the NHS. I see so many babies getting redder and redder. Surly in the long term that would be more helpful to less well off families.

[aro]

and like I said, will the government provide EPO free, vegetarian tablets, and will they ensure that there are no heavy metals or pollutants in the source!??? or will it just be the cheapest?