Full marks to the Oxford Mail for highlighting the Jamie Oliver programme promoting better school meals (Oxford Mail, March 23).

He showed that with perseverance and the right tuition, children of all ages would eat and benefit from more nourishing food, improving general health and behaviour.

Some schools sell sweets, crisps and fizzy drinks from vending machines (to help with school budgets). These products are all right for an occasional treat, but it is not a good idea to use such food as a substantial part of anyone's diet.

I suspect there will be difficult decisions for these schools in the wake of the furore on school food.

Successive Governments over many decades have ignored constant medical and scientific advice to encourage the nation as a whole to eat less salt, sugar and saturated fats, alongside many e-numbers found concentrated in processed food.

They are responsible for many debilitating diseases in later life.

The three Ss are cheap bulking agents used in the manufacture of foodstuffs. The companies using them are not concerned with the impact on the health of the nation -- greater profit is their goal.

The health, growth and development of children deserves serious consideration, especially from parents when feeding children (with a busy life, it is easier to use processed food than deal with preparation, cooking and cleaning up).

In an ideal world, parents, government, councils and schools should all play their parts in the nurture of children.

The basic needs include unpolluted air to breathe, plenty of clean water to drink, good wholesome food (with no additives), regular exercise and informative teaching methods to help them choose the recipe for a healthy lifestyle.

ALAN KERRY, Cowley Road, Littlemore, Oxford