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Childhood obesity: Plan attacked by MP, experts and campaigners Childhood obesity: Plan attacked by MP, experts and campaigners
(35 minutes later)
Changes to the government's childhood obesity plan "show the hand of big industry lobbyists," a Tory MP says. The government's childhood obesity plan shows "the hand of big industry lobbyists", a Conservative MP has said.
Dr Sarah Wollaston, chairwoman of the health select committee, said she was disappointed "whole sections" of the draft were dropped before publication.Dr Sarah Wollaston, chairwoman of the health select committee, said she was disappointed "whole sections" of the draft were dropped before publication.
The plan includes a voluntary target to cut sugar in children's food and drink by 20%, and a drive for primary school children to exercise for an hour a day.The plan includes a voluntary target to cut sugar in children's food and drink by 20%, and a drive for primary school children to exercise for an hour a day.
A minister called it "ambitious" and said it was based on the "best advice".A minister called it "ambitious" and said it was based on the "best advice".
The government's plan asks the food and drink industry to cut 5% of the sugar in products popular with children over the next year.The government's plan asks the food and drink industry to cut 5% of the sugar in products popular with children over the next year.
It says the ultimate target is a 20% sugar cut, with Public Health England monitoring voluntary progress over the next four years.It says the ultimate target is a 20% sugar cut, with Public Health England monitoring voluntary progress over the next four years.
Officials say this reduction in sugar could also be achieved by making portions smaller, for example.
What is the UK's most sugary drink?What is the UK's most sugary drink?
How much sugar is hiding in your food?How much sugar is hiding in your food?
The plan also calls on primary schools to deliver at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day and to help parents and carers ensure children get the same amount at home.The plan also calls on primary schools to deliver at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day and to help parents and carers ensure children get the same amount at home.
'Missed opportunity'
School sports will also get more funds - boosted by a tax on sugary drinks to come into force in 2018.School sports will also get more funds - boosted by a tax on sugary drinks to come into force in 2018.
The government says the tax - announced five months ago - will also add £10m a year to school breakfast clubs.
The childhood obesity strategy also says:The childhood obesity strategy also says:
The BMA said the plan omitted many measures backed by health experts, such as curbs on TV ads and cheap deals on junk food. 'Weak plan'
However, Dr Wollaston said it was "really disappointing" that "whole sections from the original draft have been dropped", including measures on advertising junk food to children and promotions such as two-for-one deals.
She said these could have made a "real difference really quickly", and added: "I'm afraid it does show the hand of big industry lobbyists and that's really disappointing."
She welcomed measures on cutting sugar in foods and keeping the tax on sugary drinks, but said it would be some time before these came into effect.
Referring to Prime Minister Theresa May's pledge to tackle heath inequality, Dr Wollaston said the government should not make such promises then - as the "first litmus test of that" - put the "interests of advertising marketers ahead of the interests of children".
TV chef and food campaigner Jamie Oliver said he was "in shock" at the "disappointing" plan.
"It contains a few nice ideas, but so much is missing," he wrote on Facebook.
"It was set to be one of the most important health initiatives of our time, but look at the words used - 'should, might, we encourage' - too much of it is voluntary, suggestive, where are the mandatory points?
"Where are the actions on the irresponsible advertising targeted at our children, and the restrictions on junk food promotions?"
The British Medical Association (BMA) said the plan omitted many measures backed by health experts, such as curbs on TV ads and on cheap deals on junk food.
Professor Parveen Kumar, chairwoman of the BMA's board of science, said the government had "rowed back on its promises by announcing what looks like a weak plan rather than the robust strategy it promised".Professor Parveen Kumar, chairwoman of the BMA's board of science, said the government had "rowed back on its promises by announcing what looks like a weak plan rather than the robust strategy it promised".
"Although the government proposes targets for food companies to reduce the level of sugar in their products, the fact that these are voluntary and not backed up by regulation, renders them pointless," she said."Although the government proposes targets for food companies to reduce the level of sugar in their products, the fact that these are voluntary and not backed up by regulation, renders them pointless," she said.
'Ambitious programme'
The Obesity Health Alliance, a coalition of 33 charities, medical royal colleges and campaign groups, said the plan fell "disappointingly short of what is needed", with some anticipated measures "significantly watered down or removed entirely".The Obesity Health Alliance, a coalition of 33 charities, medical royal colleges and campaign groups, said the plan fell "disappointingly short of what is needed", with some anticipated measures "significantly watered down or removed entirely".
Sir Harpal Kumar, chief executive of the charity Cancer Research UK, said the measures were a "missed opportunity" in the fight against childhood obesity.Sir Harpal Kumar, chief executive of the charity Cancer Research UK, said the measures were a "missed opportunity" in the fight against childhood obesity.
Councillor Izzi Seccombe, of the Local Government Association, said it was "disappointing" that a number of measures it had called for - such as for councils to have the power to ban junk food adverts near schools - had not been included. Councillor Izzi Seccombe, of the Local Government Association, said it was "disappointing" that a number of measures it had called for - such as for councils to have the power to ban junk food adverts near schools - had not been included.
And Prof Neena Modi, of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said the long-awaited strategy provided "no bold action and instead relies on physical activity, personal responsibility and voluntary product reformulation".And Prof Neena Modi, of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said the long-awaited strategy provided "no bold action and instead relies on physical activity, personal responsibility and voluntary product reformulation".
The British Dental Association also reacted angrily, accusing the government of having a "relaxed attitude" about persistent inequalities in health.The British Dental Association also reacted angrily, accusing the government of having a "relaxed attitude" about persistent inequalities in health.
But Jane Ellison, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said the plan was the "most ambitious programme of reformulation that any developed country has taken".But Jane Ellison, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said the plan was the "most ambitious programme of reformulation that any developed country has taken".
Ms Ellison, who was formerly the public health minister involved in drawing up the strategy, said the government was acting on the "best advice" from public health experts.
Asked about concerns the government had "watered down" the proposals to limit junk food advertising, she said the UK already had some of the "toughest restrictions in the world".
'Proud record''Proud record'
Ian Wright, of the Food and Drink Federation, said: "Soft drink companies are already making great progress to reduce sugars from their products, having achieved a 16% reduction between 2012 and 2016.Ian Wright, of the Food and Drink Federation, said: "Soft drink companies are already making great progress to reduce sugars from their products, having achieved a 16% reduction between 2012 and 2016.
"Indeed, many individual manufacturers have a proud track record of reformulation to remove salt, fat and sugar from food and drinks and this work will continue.""Indeed, many individual manufacturers have a proud track record of reformulation to remove salt, fat and sugar from food and drinks and this work will continue."
He said the target to reduce sugar was "flawed" because it focussed on "the role of this single nutrient, when obesity is caused by excess calories from any nutrient". He said the target to reduce sugar was "flawed" because it focused on "the role of this single nutrient, when obesity is caused by excess calories from any nutrient".
Gavin Partington, of the British Soft Drinks Association, said his industry had been "singled out" by the "punitive" tax of sugary drinks. Gavin Partington, of the British Soft Drinks Association, said his industry had been "singled out" by the "punitive" tax on sugary drinks.
He called for more "holistic" policy on obesity which did not "pick on one category".He called for more "holistic" policy on obesity which did not "pick on one category".