Time for some sticks, not just more carrots on obesity strategy

Responding to the Department of Health's Responsibility Deal fruit and vegetable pledge announcement, Malcolm Clark, Campaigns Co-ordinator of the Children's Food Campaign said:

“Moves to help us get closer to eating our recommended 5-a-day are always welcome.  But if we want to promote children’s health we also need to protect them from marketing that encourages them to eat fatty, sugary, salty food.  We also need everyday products to be reformulated so they are healthier.

It is hard to see how short term voucher schemes can lead to long-lasting behaviour change. And by not taking a tougher stance on protecting children from the marketing of unhealthy food and drink, the government continues to let our most prominent food manufacturers and retailers off the hook.

We’re looking for the government to develop sticks to go with the publicity “carrots” it is handing out to companies involved in this initiative.”

Notes:

1. The fruit and vegetable pledge should be about promoting healthy foods. It is worrying that some of the products mentioned in the DH press release are medium to high in salt (e.g. most Green Giant canned sweetcorn contains10% GDA of salt per portion; many Dolmio sauces contain 10-20% GDA of salt per portion). Promoting the health benefits of tinned vegetables with added salt is merely replacing one health problem with another.

2. None of retailers and manufacturers listed as having made pledges, have announced any corresponding reduction in their marketing spend and activity on unhealthy food and drink.

3. The Children’s Food Campaign aims to improve young people’s health and well-being through better food – and food teaching – in schools and by protecting children from junk food marketing.  We are supported by over 150 national organisations and co-ordinated by Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.  For more information see www.childrensfood.org.uk