HSE to reduce ‘junk’ in vending machines

The HSE is set to scrap unhealthy vending machines on hospital wards — just days after senior ministers claimed a similar policy could not be imposed in Irish schools.

An expert member of the Government’s special action group on obesity confirmed the move is likely to be imposed later this year in a bid to help patients in their battle against the bulge.

Speaking just days after Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said junk food vending machines cannot be banned from Irish schools, consultant endocrinologist Prof Donal O’Shea revealed a near identical policy will be imposed in hospitals.

Prof O’Shea said the move is a vital preemptive strike on some sick people’s poor eating habits.

Under the plan, on which the special action group on obesity has already signed off, all public facilities will be told they must provide more healthy than unhealthy foods in their vending machines.

In their on-campus restaurants, canteens and coffee shops, full ‘calorie count’ lists must be displayed next to all meals or food stuffs.

“This is important, because in hospitals people would tend to be a bit more health aware, and people will be able to find out that say, the muffin they are buying might have 500 calories,” Prof O’Shea said.

“In another initiative, there will be a policy change within the HSE where vending machines in health premises will have to stock more healthy items than unhealthy ones.

“I believe this will be introduced this year,” he said.

On Tuesday, the Department of Education’s second Lifeskills survey of primary and secondary schools raised concerns over the prevalence of vending machines in the facilities.

Education Minister Rúairí Quinn and Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald said they cannot ban the products from sale in schools but they are keen to see healthier options put forward.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland is also due to launch a long-awaited calorie count system for restaurants by Easter.

Hospitals have come under fire after the Irish Examiner revealed in July 2012 that some spend as little as €2 per meal per patient.