NSW kids let down by weak food laws

Commenting on a story in today's Sunday Telegraph ('Banned in Europe, but we'll eat it', page 18-19), Dr Kaye said: "NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald and his state and federal colleagues continue to allow themselves to be run by an unholy alliance of do-nothing bureaucrats and an aggressive and selfish food industry.

"While the world is moving to ban artificial transfats, the Australian and New Zealand food regulator FSANZ provides the nation's food ministers with a long list of sophisticated excuses for inaction.

"The now-proven impacts of six bright artificial colourings on the behaviour of some young people have been swept under the carpet in Australia.

"While the European regulatory agency is lending a helping hand to parents fighting obesity in their children, Australia's food ministers have buckled under industry pressure and rejected front of package 'traffic light' labelling.

"Forcing parents to rely on the confusing and often illegible nutritional information panel makes it almost impossible to police the amount of sugar, fat, saturated fat and salt in their children's diet. 

"The health and safety of Australians is being sacrificed to industry profits by a ministerial council that refuses to exercise its responsibilities to protect and warn consumers.

"The Greens are again calling on NSW Minister Ian Macdonald to lead the charge at the Council of Food Ministers meeting next month for much tighter regulations.

"He must go to the October meeting armed with advice that is independent of FSANZ and ready to take action to protect the health of all Australians,"” Dr Kaye said.

The Sunday Telegraph story is available at http://tinyurl.com/FSANZ-Tele

For more information:    John Kaye 0407 195 455