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A proposed new directive banning the sale of junk foods in schools has elicited strong protests from students and headmasters alike. The list of banned foods compiled by the Education Ministry got high praise from nutrition experts, but schools themselves say it is so strict it would leave school cafeterias selling nothing but apples and mineral water.

Jan Valenta and Zuzka Daňková run Taste of Prague, a food tour company taking visitors to some of the city’s best cafés and restaurants. The couple also have a very impressive Prague Food Blog offering insider tips on the most happening spots in the Czech capital. Our tour of “their Prague” begins at EMA espresso bar, a cool, modern café just across the street from Masarykovo nádraží train station in the downtown area.

Newly-released health ministry data shows a marked increase in mandated closures of Czech food establishments by health and safety inspectors. During 2015, 259 restaurants and other food establishments were ordered closed across the county for various hygiene-related violations.

Moves to have a blanket ban on smoking in restaurants, bars, and similar premises took another step forwards on Wednesday. The government proposal was backed by the lower house’s health committee by 18 votes to 21. An amendment calling for the current situation where owners are allowed to say whether premises are smoking or non-smoking was defeated. A move to drop another proposed measure for restaurants and bars to be obliged to offer one non-alcoholic drink cheaper than beer also failed. The Czech Republic has been characterized as one of the last smoking outposts in Europe because of its current rules.

Finance Minister Andrej Babiš, who last week caused a stir by proposing to halve the tax on draft beer has said he would not be opposed to reducing the VAT on non-alcoholic beverages and water from 21 to 10 percent as well. Mr. Babiš, who was accused of blatant populism by both opposition and coalition deputies, made the latest proposal in an interview for the daily Právo, saying that the VAT reduction on water would cost the state 15 million crowns, that on non-alcoholic beverages 50 million. Commentators have linked his proposals to the autumn Senate and regional elections.

Hana Rawlings is a pastry chef and cake designer who picked up her skills after moving to Australia. Today she is settled back in Prague and her one-time hobby has become her livelihood, she has a food blog, teaches cake-decorating at workshops and writes for leading Czech food magazines. In this edition of Marketplace she talks about her passion and her plans.

The Education Ministry has completed a list of foods that will be banned in vending machines in schools. The list includes the typical junk-food items, foods high in sugar, energy drinks, caffeine but also dressings, mayo, mustard and ketchup which are traditionally used in sandwiches. The civic initiative For a Healthy School Environment has high praise for the proposal. A law banning unhealthy foods in schools went into effect late last year but has not been implemented in practice since there was no list specifying which foods were considered unhealthy. Schools will be given a period of grace in which to make the transition.

In this special Christmas programme on Radio Prague we are going to be looking at traditional Czech Christmas meals. Later on yours truly will be making his take on the classic Czech-style potato salad. But first, I am joined in the studio by Ladislav Provaan of the Gastronomy Museum, who is an expert in all things culinary.

Czechs are the third biggest consumers of salt in Europe, followed by Hungarians and Macedonians, Czech Radio reported on Sunday, citing organizers of the 4th Czech Salt Awareness Week. Czechs consume between 10 to 15 grams of salt a day, which is roughly twice the amount recomended by the World Health Organisation. Doctors are warning that children consume excessive amounts of salt and develop addiction to salt at an early age as a result. According to doctors, the highest amount of salt is consumed in smoked meat products, cheese and processed foods.

In a first reading, lawmakers in the Czech lower house on Tuesday backed a government bill proposing a full ban on smoking in all cafes, bars and restaurants. The opposition Civic Democrats as well as some members of the communist party came out against but were unable to derail the legislation. It will now be reviewed by Parliamentary committees.