19 October 2006

Schools safer without McDonald's sponsorship

News that McDonald's will no longer sponsor Police road-safety education programmes in schools is being welcomed by Green Party Health Spokesperson Sue Kedgley, who is calling for all schools to be commercial-free zones.

Police recently ended the 20-year sponsorship arrangement with McDonald's.

"It's great that the Police have ended their sponsorship contract with McDonalds. A great deal of work is going into making schools healthy eating environments, and having corporate sponsorship allowing children to be rewarded with fast food vouchers undermines these efforts and sends conflicting and confusing messages to schoolchildren," Ms Kedgley says.

"Corporations are understandably keen on sponsorships which allow them to bypass parents and market their brands directly to children in schools. But we have to give priority to the health of our children, not the profits of the food industry.

"I hope that others will follow the lead of the Police and remove all corporate sponsorship from schools, especially of high-sugar, high-fat foods like McDonald's.

ENDS

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