(do they have the underskin chips yet?)
Posted on 11/15/2004 1:32:22 PM PST by traumer
Adverts for junk foods would not be shown on television before 2100GMT as part of a government plan to tackle obesity. Manufacturers and advertisers will be urged to agree a voluntary code of regulation, according to reports in two Sunday newspapers.
The proposal is contained in the government's Public Health White Paper, to be published this week.
Other measures include a new "traffic light" labelling system identifying unhealthy foods.
This White Paper had been expected to back a ban on advertising junk food during children's TV hours.
But Ofcom figures showing 70% of children's television viewing takes place between 6pm and 9pm prompted a move toward wider restrictions, reports said.
The Independent on Sunday said Health Secretary John Reid believed he would have public support for the move, which would ease concerns over the growing level of childhood obesity in Britain.
Some large food and drink producers have already begun reducing the number of television advertisements shown, it said.
The paper cites research showing there had been almost 10,000 fewer junk food adverts aired in the past year, compared with 2003.
The proposed ban would include products high in fat, salt or sugar.
This would not only take in burgers, crisps and soft drinks, but would also target certain breakfast cereals and even fish fingers.
The White Paper favours a "traffic light" labelling scheme for foods, according to The Observer.
Unhealthy foods would receive a red label, while healthy choices such as fruits and vegetables would attract a green label.
Nutritious but high-fat foods, such as cheese, would be given an amber label, the newspaper said.
Labelling
The system would be voluntary, however supermarket chain Sainsbury's has announced it will introduce its own coloured logos to signify healthier options from January.
Its system will use red, amber and green symbols to designate high, medium or low levels of salt, fat, saturated fat, added sugar and calories.
Rival chain Tesco is looking into a traffic light system based on dietary targets from the World Health Organisation and the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy.
The Food Standards Agency is due to publish the results of a study into the various "at a glance" nutritional labelling schemes.
The White Paper is also expected to recommend the NHS pays for patients to see personal lifestyle gurus to help them give up smoking, lose weight and live more healthy lifestyles.
And more partnership working is set to be encouraged between schools, charities and community groups to encourage children to think about health.
Peter Hollins, of the British Heart Foundation, said he would welcome moves to curb the promotion of junk food and introduce a traffic light system.
"The key thing is not to compel people to do things but encourage them."
And he added: "We would also want to see something done about snack machines at school."
Andrew Lansley, Shadow Health Secretary, said: "The government have been all talk on public health for the last seven years.
"Now they're reaching for a ban on advertising junk food when their own advisers, the Food Standards Agency and Ofcom have said that it is unlikely to be effective."
He also warned the food industry would not find a traffic light labelling system helpful, as it would attack red lights to many staple foods, such as cheese.
"What the industry is working towards is a system of labelling, showing how foods would represent parts of recommended daily amounts of calories, fats, salts and sugar.
"It would be better now for the government to work with industry towards a single solution, implemented by the industry rather than imposed by government."
Things like this crack me up. Who doesn't know what is healthy v. was isn't healthy? Are people really going to be shocked that chips aren't as healthy as a head of lettuce???
These guys are going to learn that they have to kick back on the parsnips, potatoes, rice, bread, cooked carrots, beans, falafal and so forth.
For some reason it's never occurred to the English that the reason they all have rotted out teeth isn't because their diet is too heavy with protein and fat.
I knew that clams got legs, but fish fingers?
See. Ya miss the point of this article.
The 'elites' think the 'bumbling poor' don't know any better and so they have decided to run their lives for them.
Like Hillary says "we are gonna take things away from you. For your own good."
My clock doesn't even go that high! =O
(do they have the underskin chips yet?)
Yeah, these fish has the fingers of Kerry! </joke mode>
Fish fingers is a type of deep fried fish similar to the fried fish inside McD's fillet-o-fish. Since the fish is cut into strips of 6 cm x 2 cm x 1 cm it resembles fingers rather than commonly seen slices in proportion.
You're right. It's a good thing there are folks out there who can tell me what to eat- for my own good.
There was a funny commercial a little while ago on FOX with the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. It was an anti-food police ad. Everyone had to get on a scale then he would tell them what they could eat. "Oh, so close. SALAD FOR YOU!"
You know, these guys are from Britain, they operate on different rules uch that they may as well be on a different planet! Britain is inching ever more and more to the nanny state of regulation again, and Margaret Thatcher i all but distinct memory on this once-great land destined to become Germany Mk II.
You know, these guys are from Britain, they operate on different rules such that they may as well be on a different planet! Britain is inching ever more and more to the nanny state of regulation again, and Margaret Thatcher is all but distant memory on this once-great land destined to become Germany Mk II.
Nanny state in action. Another destination for the liberals?
Yet another shining example of the nanny state "utopia" that Liberals want to inflict on us here.
So Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs aren't healthy for me? Who could have known?
Unhealthy foods would receive a red label, while healthy choices such as fruits and vegetables would attract a green label.
I'm not fat. I'm just color blind.
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