Jamie’s fury over delay to bans curbing junk foods
DELAYING the ban on multibuy deals for junk food will leave a generation of children at risk of diet-related diseases like cancer, Jamie Oliver warned yesterday.
The chef said the postponed policy, plus a curb on TV advertisements for unhealthy food before the watershed, were vital to protect children’s health and to battle obesity.
Both policies have been put on hold for a year but curbs on junk food placement in stores will still go ahead in October.
The Department of Health is delaying a ban on buy-one-get-one-free deals for food and drink high in fat, salt or sugar in England while they review the impact on families hit by the cost of living crisis.
The industry body that represents businesses such as McCain, Kellogg’s, Cadbury and Mr Kipling welcomed the move, as did Tory MPs opposed to the ‘nanny state’.
Mr Oliver tweeted: ‘We know there’s a vital need to protect child health and make sure the next generation doesn’t suffer from diet-related disease.
‘This is a wasted opportunity.’ The delay was also criticised by former Health Minister Lord Bethell, who told BBC Radio 4’s Today: ‘I am concerned that it will blow a hole in the obesity strategy.’
Kate Halliwell, from industry body the Food and Drink Federation, said: ‘At a time when both families and our manufacturers are struggling with high inflation, it makes sense to delay the restrictions.’