Parents angry as children used as food guinea pigs

PARENTS have urged researchers and companies not to use schoolchildren to test or market their products.

The National Parents Council-Primary (NPC-P) comments followed reports Dublin Institute of Technology’s (DIT) Food Product Development Centre has been carrying out market research for clients among primary school pupils.

A DIT spokesperson said only half a dozen primary schools and one second-level school have been used for the studies in the past few years, and most products involved are being developed with reduced fat and salt. She added that parental consent forms were issued in most cases.

But NPC-P chief executive Fionnuala Kilfeather said parents were surprised to discover DIT is testing products, including burgers and crisps, on schoolchildren for commercial firms.

“We are strongly opposed to commercial pressures being brought to bear on children and families through schools. There are lots of other ways for DIT and commercial firms to survey views and preferences of children,” she said.

Jean Cahill, head of innovation in DIT’s tourism and food faculty, said the college does not promote the products but conducts research to gather opinions about the samples. She said a small quantity of the product is presented and, depending on the exercise involved, the participant may be asked to smell or taste the food, or to comment on its appearance.

“In the case of children in schools, they may be asked to compare two similar examples of a product and to give their views. Free samples are not distributed and there is no branded promotion of the product involved,” she said.

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) described the practice as market research on the cheap and called for clear guidelines to be issued to schools on links with commercial companies.

“In this case, we see a reputable third-level institution approaching a school which tends to give the process a veneer of academic research. Companies could do market research like this in the supermarket on Saturday morning or pay people to do it outside of school hours,” said INTO general secretary John Carr.

He said many links between industry and schools are positive and beneficial but the Department of Education has a duty to provide advice and guidance in the area.

“In many instances, commercialism in schools relates to Government under-funding and in other cases, there is a lack of clarity,” Mr Carr said.

Fine Gael education spokesperson Olwyn Enright said parents expect children to receive an education at school and not have time directed towards research for private firms.