Green light for junk food industry puts profit before children's health

Responding to Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley's announcement today that business will be encouraged to fund the Government's Change4Life health promotion campaign, Charlie Powell, Director of the Children's Food Campaign stated:

“Andrew Lansley's comments will be music to the junk food industry's ears.  It signals that they will have free hand and Government backing to market fatty, sugary and salty foods under the cover of promoting healthy lifestyles.”

“The announcement flies in the face of the coalition Government's expressed aim to protect children from excessive commercialisation.  The Children's Food Campaign will continue to fight to ensure a future where children are protected from junk food marketing."

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For further information and interviews, please contact Charlie Powell on 0203 5596 777 / 07817 746786 or charlie@sustainweb.org.

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Notes to editors:

1. The Children's Food Campaign wants to improve children's health and well-being through better food - and food teaching - in schools, and protecting children from junk food marketing. We are supported by over 300 organisations. The Children's Food Campaign is coordinated by Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming and funded by the British Heart Foundation.  For more information please go to: http://www.childrensfoodcampaign.org.uk/

2. Andrew Lansley's speech this afternoon was to public health doctors attending the Faculty of Public Health conference in London, as reported by the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/10541190.stm

3. HM Government's “The Coalition: our programme for government”, p.19 states: “That is why we need to make our society more family friendly, and to take action to protect children from excessive commercialisation….” Available from: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/409088/pfg_coalition.pdf