 The Food Products (Marketing to Children) Bill currently in debate at Westminster will make it easier for parents to encourage their kids to eat healthier foods by introducing tougher restrictions on advertising and more robust regulations.
But Christchurch MP, Chris Chope has called on parents and carers to take more responsibilty for their kids diet and rejecting the Bills' plans to place more restrictions on the advertisinf of unhealthy food. Chris Chope debating the issue last week in the Commons said. "If the bill was to become law, unhealthy foods would include Marmite, honey and many dairy products such as cheese." He added that. "Many of these foods are not unhealthy if consumed in moderation." "I greatly believe in parental and individual responsiblity. The importance of a balanced diet and not consuming more calories than they can expend or need for healthy growth, that is the message we should convey to young people." he said Adding that. "the Bill has a number of shortcomings and completely breaches the principle that regulations should be based on sound scientific evidence. It would be better to return the drawing board and look at calorie intake and encourage children to balance their intake against how much they use or burn off" "Parents are being bombarded with many different messages and even the "five a day" has been distorted. If we undermine parents responsibilty further by these measures then parents are more likely to do less. Children like to try new foods just like their peers and probably the best way is by sitting around the table with their parents." Finally he said." Do we need more regulation, more outlawing and condemnation of ordinary people going about their lives or should we allow common sense to prevail and rely on individual and parental responsibilty as the best judge of these matters of healthy foods."
Last update : 06-05-2008 16:50
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