Parents hit out at junk food in school vending machines

The Department of Education has been urged to set up a nationwide public awareness campaign to phase out junk food vending machines in secondary schools.

The National Parents Council made the call after a government survey found the battle against obesity is still being hampered by teenagers’ sugar-fuelled diets.

According to the Department of Education’s just- published 2012 Lifeskills survey, 30% of secondary schools in this country allow vending machines on their premises.