Fitzgerald wants crisps and fizzy drinks hospital ban

PATIENTS should be banned from being able to choose fizzy drinks and crisps from hospital vending machines, Fine Gael last night insisted.

The party wants a similar bar extended to school children as part of a top-down drive to enforce healthier eating habits.

Fine Gael Senate leader and health spokesperson Frances Fitzgerald demanded “urgent” action following recent studies of the effects of high salt diets.

“The Irish Heart Foundation has highlighted the fact that sugar-sweetened soft drinks are a significant source of calorie intake in children.

“Clearly this contributes to the growing problems we see in Ireland from obesity, diabetes and heart problems. In an effort to address these we need a rethink on vending machines, and the Minister for Heath and Minister for Education should show leadership on this issue.

“When we walk into a hospital and many schools we now see vending machines selling fizzy drinks and high-calorie snacks. I believe this should change,” she said.

Ms Fitzgerald warned some schools were being financially penalised for trying to rid their premises of tempting vending machines.

“It has come to light the department had signed contracts with private developers in the case of five schools which obliged the schools to install vending machines, and now schools are finding they have to compensate developers in order to remove these machines.

“Public Private Partnership rules have since been changed where schools are concerned, but this does not address the wider public policy aspect.

“Government must show leadership and promote healthy eating if it is serious about tackling the growing health problems we face owing to poor diet and lack of exercise,” the senator said.