The Food Standards Agency Scotland (FSAS) teamed up with Scottish Rugby and the Scottish Football Association to kick start the launch of a new partnership at Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen today (Wed 5 Nov), which will encourage thousands of youngsters across the country to increase their knowledge of food hygiene, healthy eating and improve their activity levels.

Almost 10,000 school children from 350 primary schools across Scotland will take part in the Hygiene, Healthy Eating and Activity in Primary Schools (HHEAPS) initiative each year for the next 3 years. The programme comprises a six-week training course for boys and girls in primaries four to six. The course is designed to make children more aware of the benefits of good food hygiene and healthy eating.

Some youngsters and teachers from schools participating in the scheme will join the Scottish Rugby and Scottish Football players, stepping pitch-side at today’s launch and being treated to a healthy buffet lunch.

FSA Scotland Director, George Paterson said: “I am delighted to launch this partnership with Scottish Rugby and Scottish FA Development Managers, Active Schools Coordinators and of course the teachers themselves”.

“We have found that using the iconic figures of sport coaches is a very innovative way to deliver important food hygiene and healthy eating messages to Scottish school children.”

Colin Thomson, Scottish Rugby’s head of community rugby, added: “Food hygiene, exercise and healthy eating are three of the most important lessons we can teach kids today. These lessons are reinforced by Scottish Rugby's club development staff nationwide with further learning and exercise using outdoor fun-based rugby activities”.

“Scottish Rugby is delighted to work with the FSA and the Scottish FA to bring these lessons into the curriculum, meaning that an increased number of school children are getting introduced to more sporting activity, hygiene and healthy eating advice at a crucial part of their lives.”

Scottish FA chief executive, Gordon Smith, said: "We’re delighted to team up with FSAS and Scottish Rugby on this new initiative. Using football to educate young people about healthy living is something that I’m very passionate about. I’m keen to use the positive aspects of the game to encourage young people to adopt good habits when it comes to food and physical activity, and in the long term, to help them to become better all round citizens."

The pupils will complete a variety of food hygiene and healthy eating activities each week. They will learn how to be healthy and eat the right balance of foods and how to handle and store food hygienically and safely.

However, it's not all classroom-based, after completing the classroom activities, children will step outside and join Scottish Rugby and Scottish FA coaching staff for practical fun-based rugby or football sessions. During these activity sessions, the coaches will reinforce the lessons learnt in the classroom by asking pupils a variety of questions on food hygiene and healthy eating to test their knowledge.

For successfully completing the course, all pupils will receive a certificate along with some goodies including a kit bag and fridge thermometer, while participating schools will receive a framed poster.