No powers to force healthy vending machine options at schools

THE Department of Education has said its powerless to force schools to provide healthy alternatives in vending machines despite a report on obesity recommending a clear code of practice be drawn up.

Research commissioned by the Irish Heart Foundation found at second level just over a third (36%) of schools had healthy eating policies but 92% agreed there should be a code of practice on the provision and content of vending machines.

The report of the National Task Force on Obesity, published in 2009, stated that: “A clear code of practice in relation to the provision and content of vending machines in post-primary schools should be developed by industry, the department of Education and Science and schools’ representative bodies.”

However, a spokesperson for the Department of Education said it is a matter for each school to devise guidelines around the types of food that are available on the school premises and such policies should be driven by the welfare of pupils.

Safefood Ireland’s Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan said there was a problem in leaving schools to deal solely with the issue as there is a conflict of interest given they make money from tuck shops and vending machines.

In August, during a meeting of the food industry lobby body, details of which were released to the Irish Examiner under the FoI act, the Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII) said they were interested in taking a “collaborative approach” to working with the department on the issue of obesity.

Representatives told the department that vending machines in schools are owned by beverage companies and are therefore stocked with their own products — for example Coca-Cola owns River Rock and will then stock the machine with its own fizzy drinks — and that school management boards are ultimate arbitrators on range of products placed in machines.

It was agreed, however, to find out if there was any way to “investigate the scope” to have the product range more biased in favour of healthier choices. Dr Foley-Nolan said although the FDII appeared to be working with the department, the industry was going to be hurt by new policies around unhealthy food.

She said the issue of obesity was very serious given the numbers of young people now presenting with associated illnesses such as diabetes or ovarian problems in young girls.

The department confirmed the minister has written to a range of food outlets including a wide array of leading franchise restaurants, cafes and sandwich bars. The letter underscores the minister’s strong support for the proposal to have calories prominently displayed in the interests of customers. The letter cites international developments at a statutory level and strongly requests the industry in Ireland follows that lead.