AUGUSTA — A study by the University of New England has found that Maine high schools are not doing enough to ban junk food and soft drink advertising on campus.

The study found that 85 percent of the 20 schools surveyed violated a 2007 state law prohibiting junk food advertising in schools.

Study author and associate professor Michele Polacsek says she was surprised by the findings.

She tells WCSH-TV it doesn’t make sense to teach children about good nutritional habits in the classroom, then bombard them with junk food ads in cafeterias, athletic facilities and even hallways.

The ads took the form of posters, signs and vending machines.

She says many school administrators were surprised with the study’s findings and agreed something needs to be done.

 


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