![](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2004/09/27/nchoc27.jpg")
Posted on 09/27/2004 11:03:25 AM PDT by yankeedame
King size choc bars cut to size
From correspondents in London
September 27, 2004
Chocolate bars cut down to size
By Nic Fleming
(Filed: 27/09/2004)
Confectionery companies have agreed to phase out many king-size chocolate bars as part of the campaign against obesity.
Manufacturers are either scrapping or repackaging king-size bars The concession is part of the food and drinks industry's efforts to persuade the Government that tough new laws on issues such as labelling, advertising to children and school vending machines are unnecessary.
A Department of Health White Paper is expected to set out proposals later this year. It follows the House of Commons Health Select Committee's warnings in May that Britain is facing an obesity "epidemic" and accusations that food companies aggressively market and advertise sweet and fatty junk foods to children.
Britain has the fastest growing obesity problem in the world, with the number of overweight children growing twice as quickly as in America, according to the British Heart Foundation.
The Food and Drink Federation will publish its Manifesto for Food and Health today, setting out the industry's position in the debate. On portion sizes, one of seven key policy areas discussed in the document, members have committed themselves to "exploring new approaches for individual portion sizes to help reduce over-consumption".
Cadbury Trebor Bassett said yesterday sales of king-size Crunchie and Boost bars would cease at the end of next February.
In the FDF manifesto, the company commits itself to "phase out all non-segmented/non portioned king-size bars and discontinue the king-size nomenclature".
A Cadbury spokesman said: "It's down to all sections of society - the Government, the public, food manufacturers - to play their part. This is our contribution."
Masterfoods said it had decided to phase out king-size Mars and Snickers, weighing 85g and 100g respectively, and replace them with bars with at least two portions next year.
Michael Jenkins, the external affairs director at Masterfoods, said: "Our king-size bars that come in one portion will be changed so they are shareable or can be consumed on more than one occasion. The name king-size will be phased out.
"We are a responsible business and are very sensitive to changing consumer needs. This is our contribution to playing a part in trying to help this whole issue of obesity and healthy nutrition."
However, Nestle has refused to follow the lead of its rivals. King-size Lion bars, Yorkies, Kit Kats and Rolos will remain on the shelves.
A Nestle spokesman said king-size products made up only a small part of its market and were consumed mainly by "young men with active lifestyles". What other companies did was up to them, he added.
Critics said the moves represented only a small concession and the Government should ban advertising of unhealthy foods aimed at children and remove vending machines from schools.
Charlie Powell, the campaign co-ordinator at the food and farming campaigning organisation Sustain, said: "These measure are very half-hearted and cynical.
"These companies will not be able to claim to be acting in a socially responsible way until they stop advertising and marketing these unhealthy foods to children."
The FDF manifesto sets out the industry's position on labelling, the reduction of salt, food and fat levels, portion sizes, vending machines, advertising to children, healthy lifestyles and public education.
Sales of sweets and chocolates in Britain have doubled in five years.
Your tax dollars hards at work. Yep, gotta save us from ourselves. What shite!
Ping.
Hey I am thin and I like my BIG candy bar once in awhile.
Oh well it is called BUYING TWO!!
(This showed up when I proofed the article. Beats me why it didn't make it in the final cut. Oh well...)
Are they going to limit how many candy bars that can be bought at once?
Good googly moogly.
Considering this came from England, I'm not sure if any of our tax dollars were used. :)
Bound to happen sooner or later. All of our health care costs are tied together in one way or another, so of course folks must have their choices made for them.
What is the one of the right hand side of the picture?
"Are they going to limit how many candy bars that can be bought at once?"
Since this move will not have an affect on people getting fat, that would be the next logical move. After that doesn't work, I can only begin to imagine.
Where are the parents?
Here is me with my kids at the grocery store:
One of my younger kids: "Can I have this?" (Holds up chocolate bar)
Me: "No."
Footnote: My older kids (7 and 10) don't ask anymore. They know that when we go to the store, we get what is on the list and nothing else.
My heart fluttered reading that. (If you get the recipe let me know)
My diet plan only allows the bite-sized candy bars. I can eat a dozen of them in one sitting.
Oh, if I ever find the recipe it will be the mother of all vanity threads. EVERYONE will be pinged to it.
As we were discussing earlier.......................
My tax dollars are going to this "king Size" elimination in Great Brittan?
I didn't know US tax dollars pay for such regulation in Marry Ole England...
In the words of the immortal Moe Howard: "We're gonna be rubbed out after the fight, and you're worried about a cream puff!"
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