THERE’S a good argument against teachers seizing unhealthy lunchbox snacks and it’s not about parental rights.

Schools minister Lord Nash has backed the right of teachers to inspect pupils’ lunchboxes and confiscate unhealthy items. And you could immediately hear the howls of indignant parents over this perceived slur on their food choices.

Unfortunately, the reality here is that many parents still haven’t a clue about healthy eating and the current children’s obesity epidemic is the result. Schools are trying to enforce healthy eating policies to improve this situation, but it’s an uphill struggle.

The main problem is that teachers just don’t have the time today to add Lunchbox Police to their ever-increasing list of duties. Of course they want children to eat healthily, but at the expense of which area of education?

This could just end up as a lesson in sugar content, which is at least one step forward.