Leisure centre vending machines offer kids ‘unhealthy food’

5th November 2009, 11:07am

Lack of regulation allows leisure centres to sell unhealthy foods which cannot be advertised on children’s TV or sold in school vending machines, according to a report by the Food Commission.

It reveals how places where children go to get fit and active - including leisure centres, bowling alleys, ice skating rinks and park cafes "undermine the fight against childhood obesity by offering kids a barrage of unhealthy products through vending machines and junk food meal deals".

Key findings included:

• Every vending machine found at the venues visited stocked products loaded with fats, salts and sugars which cannot be advertised on children's TV or sold in school vending machines.

• Fresh fruit was displayed at less than half of the venues visited and children's meal deals were awash with fried food options including chips, nuggets, sausages and burgers all of which have been significantly restricted in schools.

• Nutritional information was displayed at just two of the venues visited, severely limiting kid's and parent's ability to assess the nutritional values of the products they are buying.

Peter Hollins, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation, said: "The average calorie content of the 21 vending machine snacks found most frequently was 203 calories. A seven year old would need to do a staggering 88 minutes of swimming to use that up.

"It's fantastic that these kids are getting fit and having fun at the same time but this is being undermined by venues peddling junk food at them.

"Councils and leisure providers need to rigorously reconsider the food options they are providing and make it easier for parents and children to make healthier choices."

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