[arista]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/he...y-Burnham.html



"He has launched a consultation to ask experts
and the public for their opinions on the issue.
Mr Burnham highlighted the case of children’s
breakfast cereals. Many are over one third sugar by weight. "


Piss OFF
Labour

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by arista

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/he...y-Burnham.html



"He has launched a consultation to ask experts
and the public for their opinions on the issue.
Mr Burnham highlighted the case of children’s
breakfast cereals. Many are over one third sugar by weight. "


Piss OFF
Labour

Childrens health is an important issue arista, don't let your dislike for the labour party cloud your judgement.

[AnnieK]

Childhood weight problems are a huge issue and need addressing regardless off your political persuasion. BUT the likes a Sugr Puffs and Frosties have been around since I was a kid and no-one mentioned the sugar content then....maybe because we all played out all day so the energy produced by sugar was needed???

If parents addressed the amount of time children spend on games consoles etc and get them out for fresh air and exercise things like this won't become parlimentary debates.

[Ammi]

..he should concentrate on re-educating parents instead of thinking about banning things..that won't solve anything as people will just find an equally unhealthy alternative, if they're the sort of parents who give in to their children and sugar is what they've request....it's about a balanced diet, although those cereals aren't healthy, they wouldn't be so bad if balanced with other healthier things throughout the day....

..it seems like a silly idea..we don't want to go down the route of black market Sugar Puffs....

[joeysteele]

I have mixed feelings on this, in fact even the Coalition Govt is expressing concerns too at the levels of sugar in some foods,especially attractive to Children.

Perhaps in School,more emphasis could be returned as to exercise lessons and more games.
I agree Parents should worry as to their Children just not maybe doing much once home as to exercise and engaging in activities that require little effort.
Parents however do in the main,likely buy what their Children eat too so possibly do need to look at the contents of things in the products they buy.

I personally feel that over 30% sugar content in certain breakfast cereals is too high, it could be set at a lever of 25% and still be sweeter than the other cereals by a mile.

I personally agree with Andy Burnham, he is involved in Health, he needs to speak out on things that have been researched and are said to be 'unhealthy', much in the same way I agree with Jeremy Hunt too, the current Health secretary who also agrees that sugar levels in some foods are too high.

There are other ways to sweeten foods without the levels of sugar if people would choose to do so.
Having said all that, although it would be more responsible for sugar levels in foods to be reduced, without Parents watching the situation, then all that would likely happen is more sugar would be added once the cereal was in the bowl at home.

I think looking back a couple of decades ago, as my Mum pointed out, most Children walked to and from School, played out a lot more,did more as to exercise in School whereas now it's all travel on buses, trains,cars and often sitting in front of a computer for hours on end,burning very few calories indeed.

It's easy for me, I don't care too much for sweet things so do avoid anyway the high sugar content goods myself.
Many stores now push strongly for instance, the sugar free, diet, and no added sugar bottles of pop,perhaps makers of cereals could go some way to addressing this problem and at least reduce by a small percentage the amount of sugar in its products.

I think Health secretary's get a rough time, they have to make sure safeguards as to health are upheld, if the do nothing they get slated for refusing to listen.
Maybe legislation is not the right or wise way to go but then again if Companies ignore the problem when left to make their own decisions and research proves that such things as this can affect health badly then I would support any Health secretary,no matter what party he was from in ensuring that was done in some way.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Childrens health is an important issue arista, don't let your dislike for the labour party cloud your judgement.

But the Conservatives
pointed out New Labours mess (13 years)
on ther UK kids food,
on how they let kids get fat.

[Jake.]

Fine by me, sugar puffs are grim and make your piss smell

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by arista

But the Conservatives
pointed out New Labours mess (13 years)
on ther UK kids food,
on how they let kids get fat.

Where...
Do you have a link to that info?
We don't know where the rot set in.
The bottom line is cereal companies are in competition to sell, they don't care how much sugar is in the product as long as it makes money.
It is up to the secretary of health to ensure the public is not misinformed or mislead. In my opinion these cereals are contributing massively to the increase in both child obesity and diabetes.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Where...
Do you have a link to that info?
We don't know where the rot set in.
The bottom line is cereal companies are in competition to sell, they don't care how much sugar is in the product as long as it makes money.
It is up to the secretary of health to ensure the public is not misinformed or mislead. In my opinion these cereals are contributing massively to the increase in both child obesity and diabetes.

Have to agree, the sad thing is too that Diabetes is a condition you can have and it be undetected for a good number of years when all sorrts of damage and/or complications may have started to develop.
I do think the Companies could easily reduce the levels of sugar from 35% and 37% to around 25% as to some cereals and still sell them easily.

If they won't do that voluntarily then in my view, any political party would be correct to set out to take measures to force them to for as you say, the health of Children and also as guidance for the Parents too as is done in most reputable,(and I use the term loosely), stores as to soft drinks.

[Marcus.]

noooo love both of them