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UK environmental health body calls for new food policy council

By staff reporter, 07-Sep-2005

Related topics: Food safety and labelling, Financial & Industry

Mixed messages about food are confusing the consumer, delegates at the annual Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) conference will be told.

The 10,000 member strong CIEH is calling for the creation of a new food policy council to integrate different government bodies responsible for food education.

 

"On the one hand we are being told to eat more fish because they contain good nutrients yet environmentally the advice is to cut back on fishing to preserve fish stocks," says Professor Tim Lang, CIEH vice-president and a professor of food policy at City University.

 

We need a food policy council to make sense of such contradictory advice, he adds.

 

The CIEH cites highlights recent figures that show despite a high-profile government eat 5-a-day campaign, people are actually eating less fruit and vegetables.

 

"We need to challenge the government to show real leadership to address key issues such as food advertising and the availability and affordability of healthier food," comments Jenny Morris CIEH policy officer.

 

The CIEH believes that as a basis for change healthier food must be readily available, attractive to the consumer, easily accessible and affordable for all sectors of the community.

 

Fat taxes will be debated at the conference, among a series of fiscal measures to encourage healthier food choices.

 

In addition, the CIEH will debate advertising of food to children, including the banning of unhealthy food advertising, as well as "clear, unambiguous and helpful food labelling including the identification of - "unhealthy" foods."

 

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