The government has refused to rule out the possibility that it will try to foist a single traffic-light labelling system on the food and drink industry.
In an exclusive interview with The Grocer, conducted as part of our Junk the Spin campaign, public health minister Melanie Johnson again signalled her support for a “clearer labelling system” that she felt would benefit consumers.
Johnson acknowledged that labelling legislation was decided at an EU level, but added: “Much can be done by voluntary agreement and government policy. We will consider options as part of the White Paper.”
The minister was responding to questions put by readers of this magazine about the food and health debate. She agreed all stakeholders had a role to play in tackling obesity. “Although consumers make up their own mind when they choose food, industry has an influence over, and responsibility for, the composition and promotion of those foods,” she said.
Her answers to your questions will increase concerns within the food and drink industry that the government is still going to try to ban television advertising to children and also introduce a blind trust in order to promote healthy eating.
Such concerns intensified following a speech by the prime minister, Tony Blair, who said that public health would be high on his third-term agenda.
“We will look carefully at measures that protect young children from pressures to make unhealthy choices - such as those from the excessive advertising of foods high in sugar, salt and fat,” said Blair.
However, there were rumours this week that publication of the White Paper had been delayed. One source expected its publication “any time between now and Christmas”.
As part of our campaign, we also quizzed shadow secretary of health Andrew Lansley on the issues surrounding the food and health debate.
Lansley pledged that a Tory government would introduce a Public Health Commission to ensure a co-ordinated approach across government to tackling issues such as obesity.
“We support a self-regulatory approach to public health issues. The role of government should be to communicate key messages on public health.
“But ultimately individuals themselves must be responsible for their own actions.”
We also put your questions to the Liberal Democrats’ health spokesman Paul Burstow. He told us: “I believe it is important to have some regulation that helps consumers to make healthier choices - for example by clearer food labelling.”
>>p36 The minister speaks
Liz Hamson & Julian Hunt
In an exclusive interview with The Grocer, conducted as part of our Junk the Spin campaign, public health minister Melanie Johnson again signalled her support for a “clearer labelling system” that she felt would benefit consumers.
Johnson acknowledged that labelling legislation was decided at an EU level, but added: “Much can be done by voluntary agreement and government policy. We will consider options as part of the White Paper.”
The minister was responding to questions put by readers of this magazine about the food and health debate. She agreed all stakeholders had a role to play in tackling obesity. “Although consumers make up their own mind when they choose food, industry has an influence over, and responsibility for, the composition and promotion of those foods,” she said.
Her answers to your questions will increase concerns within the food and drink industry that the government is still going to try to ban television advertising to children and also introduce a blind trust in order to promote healthy eating.
Such concerns intensified following a speech by the prime minister, Tony Blair, who said that public health would be high on his third-term agenda.
“We will look carefully at measures that protect young children from pressures to make unhealthy choices - such as those from the excessive advertising of foods high in sugar, salt and fat,” said Blair.
However, there were rumours this week that publication of the White Paper had been delayed. One source expected its publication “any time between now and Christmas”.
As part of our campaign, we also quizzed shadow secretary of health Andrew Lansley on the issues surrounding the food and health debate.
Lansley pledged that a Tory government would introduce a Public Health Commission to ensure a co-ordinated approach across government to tackling issues such as obesity.
“We support a self-regulatory approach to public health issues. The role of government should be to communicate key messages on public health.
“But ultimately individuals themselves must be responsible for their own actions.”
We also put your questions to the Liberal Democrats’ health spokesman Paul Burstow. He told us: “I believe it is important to have some regulation that helps consumers to make healthier choices - for example by clearer food labelling.”
>>p36 The minister speaks
Liz Hamson & Julian Hunt
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