News • Children's Food Campaign
Jamie Oliver speaks to MPs about sugar reduction strategies
Immediately after giving evidence to the Health Select Committee, Jamie Oliver spoke at a special meeting of MPs organised by Children’s Food Campaign. The event was hosted by Keith Vaz MP and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Diabetes and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Heart Disease.
There were 30-40 MPs present in a packed meeting, alongside invited guests and other members of the APPGs. The meeting gave MPs an opportunity to ask questions regarding the proposed obesity strategy, including the sugary drinks duty.
Jamie handed out bottles of sugary drinks which he had added a sticker informing the consumer how many teaspoons of added sugar it contained. He added, “I don’t believe the industry is passionate about clarity, when you give members of the British public clarity they will make reasonable decisions. When you confuse them, then things go feral.” Clearer labelling and a sugary drink tax are a part of Jamie's plan to tackle obesity. He added, “It’s deeply and profoundly important that business does not shape the health of the nation.”
Keith Vaz MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Diabetes, said: “It’s because of the work of people like Jamie Oliver that I understand that it’s important that we know about what we eat. I would like to thank Jamie Oliver for the excellent work he has does in this area.”
Read coverage in The Guardian
Published Tuesday 20 October 2015
Children's Food Campaign: Better food and food teaching for children in schools, and protection of children from junk food marketing are the aims of Sustain's high-profile Children's Food Campaign. We also want clear food labelling that can be understood by everyone, including children.
