A TAKEAWAY near two high schools is taking advantage of the ban on unhealthy food in their canteens - by offering pupils discount pizza and chips.

Giovanni Pillitteri, owner of Nino's in Manchester Road, Haslingden, has defended his decision to introduce the School Special, which offers a nine-inch pizza and chips for £1.50 to under-18s, claiming that the food is not unhealthy.

But the headteacher of nearby secondary school All Saints Catholic Language College said the move was not "commercially responsible".

Mr Pillitteri introduced the meal deal a few months ago, around the same time that East Lancashire schools had to follow the Government's strict guidelines on school meals.

The guidelines restrict fatty foods and ensure children get at least two portions of fruit and vegetables per meal.

The new legislation was introduced following a campaign by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

Nino's opens at lunchtime and puts a board outside advertising the offer to attract pupils.

Mr Pillitteri, who has run his shop for 16 years, said: "The offer is proving quite popular, with around 40 young people buying it every week.

"I don't think it's doing any harm.

"In Italy, where I come from, pizza is seen as a healthy food.

"When it is made properly, which I do, what's wrong with pizza, it's just bread with toppings?

"If you use bad food as toppings then maybe it wouldn't be very nutritious, but I only use fresh meat and vegetables.

"The deal is really about the pizza. We only add a handful of chips."

But Michael Brennan, headteacher of All Saints in Haslingden Road, Rawtenstall, said: "Schools and the Government are trying to promote healthy eating, so this sort of thing is not assisting that drive at all.

"Of course there is commercial pressure, everybody has to make a living and by all means advertise, but targeting schoolchildren in light of current discussions does not seem to me to be a good idea, or commercially responsible."

Gill Rennard, deputy headteacher at Haslingden High, which is also close to Nino's, added: "I don't think there's anything wrong with kids eating fast food occasionally as part of a balanced diet, but the takeaway is giving mixed messages by targeting teenagers when we are trying to educate them about healthy food."

Jenny Slaughter, East Lancashire dietician in charge of improving local children's eating habits, said: "Pizza itself is not unhealthy, but not every day.

"I would be happier if the deal included some fresh fruit juice, with more effort to promote healthy eating."

Mr Brennan added: "Both our schools have embraced healthy eating for some years, before it was officially introduced.

"We have had a lot of success encouraging pupils to eat healthily, offering a wide range of tasty and nutritious meals.

"But they're only at school for five-and-a-half hours per day, after that it's down to parental responsibility.

"There will always be pizza places and we cannot influence what students eat when they go home. "

And Mr Pillitteri said the pupils eating pizza were helping charity as a percentage of all sales went to Rossendale Hospice.

The tough new rules aimed at improving pupils' health were introduced across the country at the start of term.

Under the rules, children are served with at least two portions of fruit and vegetables with every meal.

Low-quality meat, fizzy drinks, crisps, chocolate and other confectionery were also banned.

High-quality poultry, meat and oily fish must be available on a regular basis.

And deep-fried items will be restricted to a maximum of two portions each week.

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