Jamie Oliver slams cost of living ‘excuse’
JAMIE Oliver has accused the government of using families’ suffering amid the cost-ofliving crisis as an “excuse” to delay tackling obesity.
The British chef presented an Eton Mess dessert to a crowd of around 200 supporters in the pouring rain outside Downing Street, which he said was “symbolic of the mess” ministers have created by postponing England’s
National Obesity Strategy by one year.
The strategy aims to reduce consumption of food high in fat, sugar and salt (known as HFSS) by banning two-for-one junk food deals and television ads for it before 9pm.
Ministers said last week that it had been deferred so they can review the impact on families amid the cost-ofliving crisis.
Holding a glass dish of the strawberry meringue aloft, Mr Oliver told cheering protesters that was an excuse.
The 46-year-old chef and father-of-five said: “To use cost of living as an excuse is wrong, it’s completely unfair.
“He’s doing a U-turn on his own laws at a time when child health has never been more compromised.
“It is absolutely urgent and the excuses that he’s used for not doing it are absolutely not true.”
He added: “We want to put child health first, the strategy was looking world class and now it doesn’t.”
Tesco and Sainsbury’s have pledged to go ahead with a voluntary ban on two-for-one deals on junk food from October as outlined in the government’s original plan.