DT News - UK - Food industry bodies ask for delay in junk food advertising reform

Dental Tribune UK

Wed. 20 February 2019

save

LONDON, UK: More than 30 food industry trade bodies have sent a letter to Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, asking for any non-Brexit-related reforms to be paused until the drama surrounding the Brexit negotiations ceases. Among these policies is an attempt to curb the advertising of high-sugar products, leading the British Dental Association (BDA) to accuse the British food industry of using Brexit to block any action on this issue.

The letter outlined how the British food industry is focused on mitigating the consequences of the potential catastrophe of a no-deal Brexit and resultantly has little time or resources to address other policy issues.

“At this moment of potential crisis, it cannot be ‘business as usual’ within government,” the letter says.

“Neither we nor our members have the physical resources nor organisational bandwidth to engage with and properly respond to non-Brexit-related policy consultations or initiatives at this time. Government has recruited many extra staff; we cannot,” it continues.

However, the BDA questioned whether the letter was merely a delaying tactic by the food industry regarding the publication of proposals on such topics as the advertising of high-sugar foods and drinks.

“Junk food barons can’t get away with using Brexit as a get-out clause for action on sugar,” said Chair of the BDA’s Principal Executive Committee Dr Mick Armstrong.

“Sugar is fuelling epidemics of tooth decay and obesity, that are stretching our health services to breaking point. Concrete action on advertising and reformulation, is long overdue. Ministers must not let shameless lobbyists kick the can any further down the road,” he added.

Tags:

To post a reply please login or register

Organisation bans junk food advertisements aimed at children

LONDON, UK: The Committee of Advertising Practice is clamping down on junk food advertising aimed at UK children. As of 1 July, the promotion of high fat, ...

Poor oral health due to junk food may elevate risk of heart disease

CAMBRIDGE – Saturated fats in junk food have been associated with obesity, diabetes and hyperlipidaemia risk. Now, researchers from the University of ...

Taking good care of your teeth may be good for your brain

SENDAI, Japan: A new study has found that periodontal disease and tooth loss are linked to brain shrinkage in the hippocampus, which plays a role in memory ...

Poor food choices cause dental problems in UK children

LONDON & RUGBY, UK: A recently published survey has suggested that UK parents may put the oral health of their children at risk by giving them the wrong...

Study finds e-learning as good as traditional training for health professionals

LONDON, UK: Electronic learning could enable millions more students to train as doctors and nurses worldwide, according to the latest research. A review ...

Interview: Good practice guidelines for implant dentistry

Training Standards in Implant Dentistry (TSID) has been available from the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) (FGDP(UK)) for over ten years. Recently, ...

World Food Day highlights importance of healthy diet

ROME, Italy: World Food Day is celebrated annually on 16 October, marking the day the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), a United Nations agency, was...

EU health experts demand taxation of unhealthy food

LONDON, UK/BERLIN, Germany: This week, a UK and a German health society have demanded the introduction of health-related food duties. In order to tackle ...

British Dental Health Foundation supports food-labelling campaign

RUGBY, UK: The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) has announced its support of the British Heart Foundation and the Children’s Food Campaign, who...

New UK food labelling system could benefit oral health

RUGBY – The British Dental Health Foundation has welcomed a new labelling system that was launched on Wednesday and aims to enable consumers to make ...

Education

Live webinar
Mon. 29 April 2024
5:30 pm UTC (London)