Posted on 05/10/2006 3:28:04 AM PDT by freepatriot32
Those familiar jingles could be a thing of the past if a health campaign succeeds
FOR 60 years the tinny jingle of Greensleeves that announced the arrival of the ice-cream van has been an indelible memory of childhood, but that sound may soon be removed from suburban streets. Health lobbyists have decided that ice-creams are too much of a danger to children’s health.
MPs and health officials are planning a series of measures across the country that are already forcing Mr Whippy and his helpers into meltdown.
Under an amendment to the Education and Inspection Bill to be put forward this week, local authorities will be given new powers to stop ice-cream vans from operating near school gates. The move comes as operators claim that they are already being forced out of business by an over-zealous health lobby.
Local authorities have in recent weeks banned ice-cream vans from using pay-and-display parking spaces and set up “ice-cream-free”exclusion zones around busy shopping streets. Newham council, in east London, informed vendors last month that it would fine van owners up to £80 if they used pay-and-display bays. Greenwich council, in southeast London, has banned the vans from its streets altogether, while in Scotland, West Dunbartonshire council has introduced an exclusion zone around schools for vans.
Mark Gossage, the director of Ice Cream Alliance that represented 20,000 van owners in the 1960s and now has 700 members, said that many of his members can no longer make a living. “Many schools have already stopped arrangements for vans to sell to pupils,” he said. “They are wiping us out.”
There are about 5,000 ice-cream vans in Britain. In times gone by they would have parked at the side of most roads; but times have changed. The amendment would grant local authorities the power to ban ice-cream vans from parking near schools.
One dietitian told The Times that a ban on ice-cream vans near schools would be a draconian policy that may drive children to buy even less healthy foods at nearby shops.
Catherine Collins, the chief dietitian at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, south London, said: “This is the kind of blanket ban that gives the health lobby a bad name. A healthy diet can factor in a sugary treat such as an ice-cream. It is the frequency of that treat that is an issue. Most choices from an ice-cream van would provide fewer calories and fat compared to a free choice from a newsagent.”
Horse-drawn vans selling flavoured ices were first seen on cobbled streets in the 19th century. Motorised vans followed in the 1950s, selling hard, scooped or soft ice-cream.
By the 1980s the business had become so lucrative that gangs fought over the right to sell to certain streets. In 1984 a row between Glasgow-based gangs led to the murder of six members of the Doyle family, who had run the Marchetti ice-cream company. The sector has since declined because of the availability of ice-creams from shops and garages. The few vendors left said last week they would be out of business if the amendment was passed.
John Barrowclough, whose Iced Treats van stops outside schools around Wolverhampton, said he had been forced to sell one of his two vans. because of a clampdown.
“We sell a lot of ice-creams near schools,” he said. “Of course no one wants to see fat kids, but most children have an ice-cream once a week, not every day.”
Sefer Huseyin, whose family have run Five Star Catering ice-cream vans in Camberwell, southeast London, since the 1960s, said that his vans had been banned from schools. “Telling vendors they are not allowed near schools is the wrong message,” he said. “They have been going there for years and their livelihood is being taken away from them.”
However, the amendment is supported by some health campaigners. Chris Waterman, the executive director of the Confederation of Education and Children’s Services Managers, said ice-cream vans should be restricted. “There are millions going into healthy food in schools, yet kids are rushing to spend their money on food from mobile vans,” he said.
“The ice-cream van industry may be saying it is in meltdown but for the sake of our children’s health and safety we should keep the icons at Bournemouth and Blackpool but stop them driving around schools.”
TREAT OR HEALTH HAZARD?
A large single ice cream cone contains about 139 calories and 6g of fat. A chocolate Flake adds about 100 calories and another 6g of fat
Many ice-creams and iced lollies in wrappings contain between 40-100 calories. A Mars Bar contains nearly 300 calories
A serving of rich vanilla ice cream will typically contain 90ml milk, 90ml double cream or whipping cream, a vanilla pod, an egg yolk and 25g of caster sugar
Some soft ice cream sold on the streets can contain saturated vegetable fat, sugar, milk powder, artificial flavourings and additives including E407 and E122.
Toppings are usually a mix of glucose syrup, additives, synthetic flavourings, artificial sweeteners and preservatives
Depending on whom you believe, “99s” were first made by Cadbury’s in the 1930s as a tribute to the King of Italy’s bodyguard, traditionally composed of 99 troops; or a tribute by Italian café owners to Il Ragazzi del 99, a band of soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Piave River in the First World War; or named after the address of the Edinburgh-based Arcari ice-cream dynasty at 99 Portobello High Street
The two most popular ice cream van jingles today are O Solo Mio by Eduardo Di Capua — popularly known as the Cornetto theme — and Greensleeves
We got one in our neighborhood. Plays "Yellow Rose of Texas".
You GOTTA BE SHI77ING ME. Good Lord. This butting into our lives must end, as these people are INSANE.
I really,at this time,am at a loss for words.
More than anything else in the world, I can't stand the nanny staters and their busybody selves.
God, their self-importance just grates me to no end.
When did I say that, LOL way to go to misquote me.
The article is not about banning Ice Cream, but about not letting ice cream vans tout for business outside schools.
In these cases since the parent is not around they have no choice in the matter as to whether they say yay or nay.
Ahh! I DO remember! One more reason to be glad I was a child in the fifties.
I guess it takes a village, eh?
To do what have a Village fair, a Village Ball, or a Village to retire to.
I thought we were talking about ice cream.
To do what have a Village fair, a Village Ball, or a Village to retire to.
I thought we were talking about ice cream.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.