Select committee wrong on food industry effort

31 August 2007

Media Release

Food and Grocery Council

Select committee wrong on food industry effort

The Food and Grocery Council has taken issue with Health Select Committee claims that the industry’s multi-million dollar effort is not enough to help with fighting the rise in number of people who are overweight and obese

Brenda Cutress, Executive Director of the FGC says the food industry has put extensive resources into reformulation of products to provide low calorie sugar, fat and salt options for those consumers who wish to manage their weight.

“It is regrettable that the Committee has ignored the information we provided of all the industry work on the issue – changes which have cost millions of dollars,” Ms Cutress said.

“The industry agrees it has an important role to play in addressing obesity and is playing its part. There is information on product labels, websites and pamphlets describing healthier eating and lifestyles, massive changes to the timing and style of advertising and marketing, and hundreds of products on shelf that encourage consumption of healthy diets”, she said.

The Council also regrets the Select Committee’s failure to address the other causes of obesity that the industry’s review of the science literature on the subject had revealed.

“Little emphasis was given to links to culture, genetics and family which have been identified by Scientists as causes as to why some people become over weight.

“It is also regrettable that the Report played down the role that education has in the debate. The promotion of healthy lifestyles and healthy diets is of prime importance. The majority of the population is not obese and over weight and hence the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight is heeded.

“Bans and regulatory intervention that eliminates choice and rely on control will not achieve the attitudinal changes that are required.

“We are satisfied that the Government itself, including the Ministry of Health’s “Healthy Eating; Healthy Action” Strategy is addressing the issue effectively. While the important recognition that early management of people at high risk of diabetes is most commendable, the Select Committee’s conclusions do not further the debate Ms Cutress said.

ENDS

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