Say What?! Sporting Clubs Ban Oranges for Sugary Lollies Instead

Oranges at half time are frequently being replaced by lollies and we think it stinks!

Many South Australian sporting clubs want to ban the fruit over fears high levels of acid are bad for children’s teeth.

The West Adelaide Soccer Club is one such group accepting the move, with chairman Alex Alexandrou saying the push came predominantly from parents.

“It’s something that seems to have evolved from parents talking to other parents and saying, ‘Look, let’s not go the oranges, let’s give the kids a sugar hit’,” he said.

The alternative – lollies.

The theories behind the ban vary, from rumours that oranges cause tummy troubles, to lollies helping kids perform better, to concerns citrus can damage kids’ teeth.

But as Perth Now reports, according to dentists, it’s not the orange itself that is bad for teeth, but the dehydration that comes with it.

“When you’re dehydrated, the level of saliva goes down considerably, so the concern is that saliva won’t actually be able to come through and repair the surface of the tooth,” dentist Dr George Mandranis said.

“If we’re doing this once a week, that’s not a big concern,” he said.

“But if they’re constantly dehydrated, and constantly exposing our teeth to oranges, that’s where it’s of concern.”

For parents concerned about acidity, Mandranis says fruits such as bananas or watermelon might be a better solution.

Do you think this is a ridiculous decision?

Share your comments below

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19 Comments

- - rachelvk said
  - 01 Aug 2019
    12:51 pm
Yeah I agree that this is a bit silly.

- - Blossom said
  - 20 Jul 2019
    5:00 pm
Whilst I agree that oranges are more nutritious it is true that they are acidic. Some have trouble with the acid in other ways – including indigestion or reflux. Maybe they could substitute another fruit. Oranges are a seasonal fruit which may have been in storage for several months. There is not nearly as many grown now due to excessive water restrictions and the cost of water for those who do get large enough allowances for their fruit to be juicy.

- - becstalou said
  - 04 Jul 2019
    12:33 pm
Give them a drink of water after their orange and the acid will be washed out.

- - mom129591 said
  - 03 Jul 2019
    6:11 pm
Sounds a bit silly! Oranges have always been a great source of energy during sporting activities. Not lollies.

- - mom93821 said
  - 30 Jun 2019
    8:17 pm
Lollies instead of oranges….hmmmm….interesting decision!

- - Mum2archer said
  - 29 Jun 2019
    2:41 pm
What a joke!! Yeah citrus will damage their teeth, but lollies are fine? I worry sometimes about this world we are bringing our kids up in

- - mom290396 said
  - 27 Jun 2019
    5:49 pm
That’s ridiculous! Sometimes that might be the only fruit a kid gets! Lollies aren’t in short supply like they were when we were kids, todays kids eat them whenever. They need the oranges and their reasons behind it are just stupid!

- - DaffyD said
  - 27 Jun 2019
    8:34 am
Is this for real! sounds like a bad joke

- - Ellen said
  - 27 Jun 2019
    7:54 am
No way !

- - nealsq said
  - 26 Jun 2019
    11:14 pm
so offer water with it! Oranges are a tradition and obviously better for them than lollies (I hate that a chocoholic has to write that!)

- - mom265671 said
  - 26 Jun 2019
    11:04 pm
Could just offer a different fruit

- - rnash02 said
  - 26 Jun 2019
    10:06 pm
This is ridiculous!!
My son’s soccer team take turns each week bringing fruit, which consists of a mixture off apples and oranges the kids love it

- - celebrity said
  - 26 Jun 2019
    9:15 pm
This is the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard! They are having a refreshment halfway through a sometimes very physical game-it is an orange! It may be the only orange some kids get in a week. Time to leave this alone and let kids enjoy their orange at sport time.

- - youngoldlady said
  - 26 Jun 2019
    8:24 pm
Fruit is so much better then lollies, Get a different fruit if it is a problem, no way would lollies be better.

- - ashna9 said
  - 26 Jun 2019
    8:06 pm
How ridiculous!

- - BellaB said
  - 26 Jun 2019
    6:55 pm
Yes it’s silly. As is the reason given – sugar rots teeth, too.

- - serotonin said
  - 26 Jun 2019
    3:54 pm
I used to hate how sticky the oranges were when I did netball as a child. I only did it for one year, wasn’t my thing. They should definitely give the bananas or watermelon a go before lollies.

- - mom62527 said
  - 26 Jun 2019
    12:18 pm
Really? I’ve never heard of this oh well each to they’re own. Personally I wouldn’t be happy about it if my children were playing a sport and were given lollies instead of fruit.
- mom93821 replied
  
  01 Jul 2019 , 4:37 am
  Lollies seem like an odd choice indeed.
  Lollies for a party yes but for a sporting game?