Food that carries health claims must be healthy

Local Green MEP candidate Carol Kambites(i) has called for tough new
rules to stop food manufacturers targeting children with misleading
claims about the health benefits of their products. At present,
manufacturers put health and nutritional claims on food voluntarily,
and there are no rules governing their use.

Euro-MPs meeting in Brussels are reviewing proposals for stricter
regulation of food labelling to help prevent misleading claims being
put on food. Members of the EU Environment Committee heard that
children's health in particular is at risk from unhealthy diets. Green
Euro-MPs have called for new European rules on food labelling to make
special provision for foods aimed at children, and in particular to
force food manufacturers to seek prior approval for any claims about
health benefits made in marketing products aimed at children.

Carol Kambites said: "We have heard a lot in the last weeks about high
levels of obesity and heart disease. We must promote a healthy diet,
particularly to children. That's why certain claims made by some food
manufacturers about the apparent health benefits of their products
strike such a chord with many parents. Eating habits are often set at a
very young age which is why it's so important that parents and young
people are able to make an informed choice."

Kellogg's Frosties Turbos contain at least five times as much sugar as
Kellogg's Cornflakes

Carol Kambites said; "Recent studies have shown up some disturbing
facts about foods aimed at children. For example Kellogg's Frosties
Turbos contain at least five times as much sugar as Kellogg's
Cornflakes, whilst other breakfast products like Nestle Shreddies and
Kellogg's X-men 2 contain very high levels of salt (i)."

Carol Kambites said: "The message about the need to eat a healthy diet
is getting across to people, and they do look at labels to assist them.
Some 68 per cent of consumers regularly read food labels and it is
important that they can trust the claims and know them to be based on
sound science"

Carol Kambites continued: " '90% fat free' sounds healthy but it can
still mean the product is 10% fat - which is actually higher than most
low fat products. That's why we need the new rules to compel food
manufacturers to be accurate and transparent in the claims they make
about their products - particularly those aimed at children. These
aren't proposals to stop foods from being made and sold, just to ensure
that, where manufacturers choose to make claims, that they are clear
and truthful.'

Carol Kambites concluded: "Food that carries health claims must be
healthy."

Notes to Editors

(i) About Carol Kambites: She is a 53-year-old teacher, at present in
her third year of a PhD at the University of Gloucestershire,
researching understandings and implementation of the discourse of
sustainable development at a local level. Carol is also a Stroud Town
Councillor and been involved in the Green Party for over 25 years. Her
family have grown up and she will soon be looking for a new challenge.

(ii) A recent UK Consumers Association survey about foods aimed at
children found
that:

* Many foods aimed at children are poorer nutritionally than adult
versions
* Many foods aimed at children have high salt levels
* Some products labelled 'lunchbox fillers' have misleading labels and
limited nutritional information