A primary school which refused a healthy free milk scheme is instead flogging its pupils fattening doughnuts in the playground.

Cuddington Croft Primary School has already sold sugary Krispy Kreme doughnuts twice this year to children in an attempt to raise funds for school projects.

Meanwhile, the school opts out of a European Community subsidy scheme to offer under-fives free milk, needed for healthy bones and teeth.

Another sale of the American doughnuts, each containing 12 grams of fat and 200 calories, is planned for this Saturday.

Astonished parents claimed the doughnut sale could encourage vulnerable children to buy more and increased the risk of obesity.

Paula Dolijanin, a health visitor, of Cheam, said the school’s inconsistent stance on healthy eating confused young minds.

The mother-of-three said: “Young children are vulnerable to such organisations through daily life, but I find it unacceptable that these organisations are welcomed into a position of trust inside school grounds.

“They are allowing Krispy Kreme to push their product in the school at the expense of children’s health, but yet it doesn’t offer milk, which is good for healthy bones and teeth.

“It’s sending mixed messages to children.”

Krispy Kreme, which opened its first outlet in Britain in 2003, supplies its doughnuts at near cost price to “good causes” such as schools.

Concern about the marketing tactics used by fast food manufacturers was raised in 2004 after a report by MPs from the Commons health select committee on the increasing levels of obesity among the young.

A school spokesman said the provision of milk was not viewed as a priority because of “significant disadvantages in relation to the logistics, administration, storage and distribution of the milk including the implications of spillage during warm weather”.

He said the school had examined the provision of free milk and felt while there were “marginal benefits”, the disadvantages “would have diverted valuable staff time away from the provision of a broad and balanced curriculum in other areas”.

The spokesman said: “We are more certain, however, that the vast majority of parents at the school believe they should have free choice as to what they will and will not buy.”

The school said it strongly supported the promotion of healthy living and that it was implementing a free fruit scheme for younger pupils.

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