Ice-cream benefits

SIR – Elizabeth Gomm (Letters, July 19) thinks we should ban ice-cream vans to tackle childhood obesity.

In the 1960s, my friends and I indulged in such occasional treats without any problems. There are many other causes of childhood obesity than the odd ice cream, and a bit of enjoyment can lift the spirits – a proven benefit to people of all ages. RK Hodge

Chichester, West Sussex

SIR – When my children were young I told them that when the ice-cream van played a tune it was to tell everyone it had run out of ice cream.

Rosemary Knight

Allostock, Cheshire

SIR – It is not the responsibility of government to control levels of obesity (“Sugar and salt taxes plan set out by food tsar”, report, July 15).

For adults the responsibility lies with individuals, and for children with parents. And please don’t tell me that it is too expensive to eat healthily: an apple is cheaper than a bag of crisps, four pounds of carrots are cheaper than a pizza – the list goes on.

Cliff Peers

Chester-le-street, Co Durham