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UK threatens to introduce fat food laws
Source: Agencies |
January 3, 2009, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
The government will consider regulating the food industry if a three-year health lifestyle campaign fails to reduce obesity levels in England, the UK Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said yesterday.
The government kicks off the Change4Life campaign today with television, magazine and billboard advertisements urging people to adopt a more healthy lifestyle.
The action is being taken after forecasters said obesity was rising so fast that by 2050 four out of 10 children and nine out of 10 adults will be overweight or obese.
The government is seeking over the next 11 years to reduce child obesity back to the level of 2000. Bradshaw said the government had decided to work with food manufacturers and supermarkets rather than imposing legally binding nutrition rules.
"We have already made progress on things like labeling and fat and salt content working with the industry," he told BBC radio.
"But ... if this three-year campaign does not succeed, we don't rule out regulating in future."
The government banned the advertising of junk foods during children's television programs in April 2007 but has resisted calls to extend the restrictions.
Health lobby groups say the obesity crisis is being fueled by food companies who put too much salt, fat and sugar in their products and have criticized their involvement in the campaign.
A coalition of 35 food, supermarket, fitness and advertising companies are contributing sponsorship worth 200 million pounds (US$288 million) to the campaign, on which the government is spending 75 million pounds.
The government kicks off the Change4Life campaign today with television, magazine and billboard advertisements urging people to adopt a more healthy lifestyle.
The action is being taken after forecasters said obesity was rising so fast that by 2050 four out of 10 children and nine out of 10 adults will be overweight or obese.
The government is seeking over the next 11 years to reduce child obesity back to the level of 2000. Bradshaw said the government had decided to work with food manufacturers and supermarkets rather than imposing legally binding nutrition rules.
"We have already made progress on things like labeling and fat and salt content working with the industry," he told BBC radio.
"But ... if this three-year campaign does not succeed, we don't rule out regulating in future."
The government banned the advertising of junk foods during children's television programs in April 2007 but has resisted calls to extend the restrictions.
Health lobby groups say the obesity crisis is being fueled by food companies who put too much salt, fat and sugar in their products and have criticized their involvement in the campaign.
A coalition of 35 food, supermarket, fitness and advertising companies are contributing sponsorship worth 200 million pounds (US$288 million) to the campaign, on which the government is spending 75 million pounds.
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