a day ago
Concerns at number of fast food shops next to NI schools spelled out
New research has discovered that nearly one in five (17%) secondary schools in Northern Ireland have five or more fast food outlets within a 400m radius.
The figures were published today in a Food Standards Agency study called 'The Availability of Fast Food Outlets and Grocery Retailers in Northern Ireland and Their Distance From Secondary Schools'.
The research found that in Northern Ireland, on average, there are an average of 2.2 fast food outlets within a 400m radius of a secondary school.
One in five schools have five or more outlets within the same radius.
There's also an average 0.8 grocery retailers within a 400m radius of secondary schools in Northern Ireland.
Weekend News Catchup - 16th June 2025
Some 50% of schools have no fast food outlets within a 400m radius while 56% of schools have no grocery retailers within that radius.
Of the secondary schools with no grocery retailers within 400m, 20% have at least one fast food outlet inside that distance.
Across Northern Ireland, there are approximately 2.5 times as many secondary schools with one or more fast food outlets in the most deprived areas compared to the least; and around three times as many secondary schools with one or more grocery retailers in the most deprived areas compared to the least.
FSA Head of Science and Surveillance Naomi Davidson, a contributing author to the report, said the research can help the FSA's work in improving children's meals outside the home.
'We know from the Health Inequalities Annual Report that an average of 5.6% of Year 8 pupils in Northern Ireland live with obesity, with a higher proportion observed in the most deprived areas,' she said.
'We also know from research in England there are more fast food outlets in highly deprived areas.'
Explaining the implications of the research, Professor Susan Jebb, Chair of the Food Standards Agency said: 'Healthy food for our children at school is important to support their day to day learning, but it is also a formative period of their life to develop healthy habits for life.
'Understanding the food environments close to schools can help develop policies to increase the likelihood of children having nutritious food during the school day.'
