The European Parliament on Tuesday adopted a report calling for more funding for a European Union (EU) program for distributing fruit and vegetables in schools, aimed at encouraging healthier eating habits in children and combating the obesity epidemic.

The European Commission, the executive body of the EU, had proposed a budget of 90 million euros (114 million U.S. dollars) for the program for the 2009-2010 school year.

However, members of the EU parliament believed this was not enough, as it is equivalent to giving every child aged 6 to 10 just one piece of fruit a week for 30 weeks.

The parliament's Agriculture Committee has called for a budget of 500 million euros (630 million dollars) for the year 2009-2010. However, rapporteur Niels Busk believes this is unrealistic and intends to table an amendment calling for a sum of 360 million euros (455 million dollars) for the year.

In a report approved overwhelmingly, the house also calls for the practical arrangements for the program to be clarified. The program should cover only fruit and vegetables produced within the EU, the house argues.

The fruit and vegetables should meet the highest quality standards and should preferably be seasonal varieties, grown locally. Priority should be given to sustainable production.

The report also suggests that the program not only be restricted to school children in the 6-10 age group but should also be available to pre-school children. In addition, parliamentarians want the fruit to be accompanied by health and dietary advice in an appropriate style for children.

About 22 million children are overweight in the EU and more than 5 million are obese, mainly owing to excessive consumption of fatty, sweet or salty food. The World Health Organization recommends consumption of at least 400 gms of fruit and vegetables per day for children under the age of 11.