April 25, 2000 – According to a report by the Food Commission, an independent UK body, the vast majority of foods created specifically for the children’s market are “food disasters”. “If the industry wanted to undermine children’s health, it could hardly be more effective,” said Dr Tim Lobstein, one of the report’s signatories.
According to the Food Commission survey, for every truly nutritious product made for the children’s market, there are over 10 others that contain high levels of saturated fat, sugar and salt.
The survey did not take into account candy, soda and other potato chips, but only foods marketed under slogans such as “ideal snack for children” or which used cartoons to attract young consumers.
The report states that a third of the 358 products studied were so poor that no nutritional value could be given to them. Three-quarters of the other products had high levels of saturated fat, sugar and salt.
To complete the picture, two-thirds of the products contained artificial colors or flavors, with some products including up to seven, eight and nine different colors.
The April edition of Food Magazine, the journal of the Food Commission, accuses the British food industry “of doing everything legal to unbalance food”.
HealthPassport.net
According to Reuters, April 18, 2000
