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.

While the rate is down slightly from 35% in 2009, it compares to just 0.3% of primary schools which allow the same type of fizzy drinks and other unhealthy items to be sold in their facilities.

The Department of Education said legal reasons mean that, despite flagging the issue as being of serious concern, it cannot ban vending machines from schools entirely.

However, National Parents Council Post Primary president Don Myers said there is nothing stopping Education Minister Ruairi Quinn from setting up a nationwide junk food awareness campaign in schools to help teens in their battle with obesity.

“We are in a situation where obesity is up, where diabetes is up and there are a lot of people going down this road, so there is a need to raise awareness about healthy eating.

“The majority of schools are in towns so if you just ban vending machines then they’ll just go to the nearest shop and get junk food there.

“An awareness campaign in schools on healthy eating and where people are offered healthy options would go a long way,” he said.

The latest Lifeskills survey also found just one third of secondary schools are actively involved in the existing Health Promoting Schools programme, while a massive 90% of teenagers are not getting the required two hours of physical education (PE) classes every week.

Currently, Ireland’s 700- plus secondary schools take in approximately €1.3m a year from vending machines, bringing vital funds into facilities.

Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald said this week that the sale of junk food in schools must be examined carefully, but backed her cabinet colleagues by saying an outright ban may be a step too far: “I would encourage the Minister for Education to examine this and let’s get a clear picture of why this is the case given our obesity situation.

“Clearly some schools have entered into contract with various firms and so the contents of these machines are what they are.

“But obviously, I would be saying to schools that we should be moving in the direction of healthy food.”