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23/01/2004
FSA seeks NI views on food promotion and children's diets
The Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland (FSANI) has called for the public to express its opinion on the promotion of food to children and the effect it has on poor diets and rising levels of childhood obesity.
With consultation already underway with schools, local authorities and the food industry across the province, the Agency will have a stand in Belfast’s Castle Court shopping centre on January 29, 30 and 31 where members of the public will have an opportunity to find out more and give their views.
The Director of FSANI, Morris McAllister, said: "We already know that children’s diets contain more fat, sugar and salt than is recommended. The 1999 survey ‘Eating for Health’ showed, for example, that only one in ten children in NI are eating the recommended the five portions of fruit and vegetables, and one in five boys and one in eight girls do not eat any fruit or vegetables on a daily basis.
"We also know that inactive lifestyles, high fat and high calorie eating patterns are contributing to the growing obesity epidemic. In Northern Ireland, for example, a third of boys and a quarter of girls aged 12 carry excess weight. This is why the Agency is encouraging a wide-ranging public debate involving schools, industry and parents.”
In September 2003, the Agency published research into the impact of food advertising on children, led by Professor Gerard Hastings, which concluded that food promotion to children does have an effect on their food choices and behaviour.
Following this, the Agency published its policy options paper, ‘Promotional Activity and Children’s Diets’. This paper laid out a number of policy options, including measures that could cover sponsorship, advertising, labelling, endorsements, in-store activity and loyalty schemes. The intention of the paper is to encourage wide-ranging public debate which will help inform the FSA’s recommendations to Government.
A televised public debate 'Defusing the diet time bomb’ will be aired on Tuesday, 27 January from 6.30 to 8.30 pm on Sky digital channel 687 or view a live webcast at www.food.gov.uk.
(SP)
With consultation already underway with schools, local authorities and the food industry across the province, the Agency will have a stand in Belfast’s Castle Court shopping centre on January 29, 30 and 31 where members of the public will have an opportunity to find out more and give their views.
The Director of FSANI, Morris McAllister, said: "We already know that children’s diets contain more fat, sugar and salt than is recommended. The 1999 survey ‘Eating for Health’ showed, for example, that only one in ten children in NI are eating the recommended the five portions of fruit and vegetables, and one in five boys and one in eight girls do not eat any fruit or vegetables on a daily basis.
"We also know that inactive lifestyles, high fat and high calorie eating patterns are contributing to the growing obesity epidemic. In Northern Ireland, for example, a third of boys and a quarter of girls aged 12 carry excess weight. This is why the Agency is encouraging a wide-ranging public debate involving schools, industry and parents.”
In September 2003, the Agency published research into the impact of food advertising on children, led by Professor Gerard Hastings, which concluded that food promotion to children does have an effect on their food choices and behaviour.
Following this, the Agency published its policy options paper, ‘Promotional Activity and Children’s Diets’. This paper laid out a number of policy options, including measures that could cover sponsorship, advertising, labelling, endorsements, in-store activity and loyalty schemes. The intention of the paper is to encourage wide-ranging public debate which will help inform the FSA’s recommendations to Government.
A televised public debate 'Defusing the diet time bomb’ will be aired on Tuesday, 27 January from 6.30 to 8.30 pm on Sky digital channel 687 or view a live webcast at www.food.gov.uk.
(SP)
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