Junk Food Ads in Schools | Ciaran Cuffe

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25 October 2005	Education	Junk Food Ads in Schools

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Education and Science her plans to prohibit the sale and advertisement of junk food in schools.

Minister for Education and Science: Schools are privately owned, privately managed institutions which, although funded by the State, enjoy a large degree of autonomy. It is, therefore, primarily a matter for each school to decide on the types of food that are available on the school premises. I am not aware of any impediment that would prevent schools imposing a ban on the selling or advertising of certain foodstuffs on school premises, although any special dietary needs of students would have to be taken into account. Many schools have developed healthy eating policies in co-operation with their parents association, and I would encourage others to do so.

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