For my sins - I have been a long term Tory voter - carried on from the parents' influence I suppose. Never again and especially after having had an appointment with my local (tory) MP yesterday evening.
Before going I did alot of research into how the country's health has suffered in past years owing to our increased bad diet and found, to my surprise that the labour government have done much more towards attempting to improve things. Here are the notes I made:-
THE FOOD MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY AND THE HEALTH OF THE NATION
In the late 1990’s alarm bells were rung with regard to the nation’s diet and what would be the resultant consequences. If effective steps had been taken then, the state of the country’s health would have been greatly improved by now.
From almost 2 decades ago, food industry practices have been challenged by the policy makers, the public and health professionals.
A Prime Minister’s official spokesman has recently said.” What we are doing is working with the industry. You have already seen commitments from retailers and manufacturers to reduce levels of salt, remove some artificial fats, reduce calorie content and improve labelling“. “Working with the industry” are the telling words. The government’s lax approach is due to ministers close links with the industry. The Food and Drink Federation, the industry lobby group, has had 16 meetings with ministers since the last election and 99 with government officials - looking after the interests of the food producers whom they represent. Groups calling for legislation on salt, sugar, unhealthy fats and misleading labels have had proportionately small meetings with any government officials!!
Another interesting quote from a Department of Health spokesman said “ Many manufacturers and retailers are already taking sugar, fat and salt out of products as a result of our Responsibility Deal, which is based on working collaboratively with the industry rather than imposing unrealistic targets“.
Government must cast aside it’s cosy relationship with the food industry for the sake of the nations health and the resultant costs involved. After allowing the industry to self regulate for so long it must now show some guts and legislate.
CURRENT STATISTICS
Obesity - which then goes on to cause type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers is the cause of 10% of deaths per year and costs the NHS between 5 and 16 billion pounds a year. Two figures which I have seen in print.
In the past 2 decades the number of obese adults has almost doubled.
Not to be proud of - we are the ‘fattest’ nation in Europe!
A national survey found little change in eating habits between 2008 and 2012 with most people failing to meet any of the national guidelines on a healthy diet.
TIME-LINE OF EVENTS CONTRIBUTING TO DIET - ESPECIALLY IN CHILDREN
1970
Margaret Thatcher became Sec. of State for Education. The economic outlook was grim - cuts had to be made. Free milk was stopped for older children and the price of school meals was raised.
1979
Mrs. Thatcher became PM and abolished school milk altogether
1980
The 1980 Education Act abolished minimum nutritional standards in school meals.
The Tory government initiated competitive tendering for school meal services. Private companies took over and persuaded schools that a cafeteria system was best. This resulted in the supply of popular fast food items. Another downside to this was obvious - these companies would need to make a profit.
END OF THE 80’S
Home Economics was removed from the National Curriculum and playing fields sold off -resulting in a decrease in physical activity.
Academic subjects were the new mantra - to the detriment of ‘skills for life’ along with ensuring a future healthy nation.
This move has resulted in a whole generation not being able to cook and who rely largely on unhealthy ready meals.
1997
Labour came to power. National Heart Forum campaigned for an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption. Despite various initiatives, uptake of fruit and vegetables hasn’t reached a decent level.
Also in this year the Food Standards agency was initiated and were tasked with the Department of Health to conduct a survey of young peoples’ diet and nutrition. The report was published in 2000 and stated that children were eating too much junk food, less fruit and vegetables than ever before and not taking enough exercise. Children were eating mostly processed or convenience foods. 9 out of 10 children drank fizzy drinks. This ’junk’ diet contained excessive amounts of sugar
1999
David Blunkett issued a draft of new regulations - these aimed at ensuring children had a balanced diet. Tories didn’t like the proposals and said they were ‘nanny stateism’. Others thought the proposals didn’t go far enough
2000
The NHS opened it’s first clinic to deal with childhood obesity.
In this year much was said by various organisations regarding diet and the resultant dire consequences if we were to continue as before.
Nutritional standards for school meals - the first for 20 years - were eventually published in July 2000 and became compulsory in
April 2001
It is evident that New Labour did a fair bit in an effort to improve child nutrition but these initiatives have had little effect on childrens’ eating habits. The reason for this being that the governments efforts are being undermined with it’s own unwillingness to confront 2 big problems posed by the vested interests of the food industry - the advertising of junk food and promotional schemes, set up by food manufacturers, in schools.
WHY THINGS HAVE TO CHANGE
1.Food habits learned in early life persist for years
2.Pressure on working parents, changes in lifestyle, food advertising and lack of food education have led to a culture in which few families sit down together for traditional meals. Parents assume that children get a healthy meal at school.
3.There has to be a rise in the cost of ingredients for school meals to up the quality.
4.Consider the re-introduction of subsidies.
5.Eligibility for free meals should be widened and take up encouraged
6.Nutrition and food preparation must be made important elements of the National Curriculum.
7.Any promotions or sale of junk food in schools should be banned
8.Televising advertising of junk food to children must be banned.
(info from www.educationengland.org.uk )
The future health of the nation depends on implementing all of these points.
Kraft in the USA are involved in litigation, in connection with it’s foods causing unhealthy outcomes!! - it will arrive here.
END.
My parting point is this:- There was great trumpeting when cookery was made compulsory in schools. I believe that it is for 11-14 year olds. I have discovered that this involves only 6 lessons per year - half a term.
