Higgins welcomes European Commission White Paper on Nutrition
FG MEP Senator Jim Higgins today welcomed the launch of the European Commission's White Paper on Nutrition, a move to tackle problems such as obesity and other health issues associated with an unbalanced diet.
Speaking earlier today Senator Higgins said, "The White Paper marks an important development for people living in the EU and specifically children of whom it is estimated 21 million are overweight. The White Paper highlights the need to tackle the various obstacles to a healthy lifestyle such as diet and activity facilities." The White Paper aims to improve the consumer's awareness of food content through better labelling allowing the consumers to make more informed and better choices.
"Clearer labelling will hopefully lead to healthier citizens, and to lower the risk of common problems such as heart attacks and obesity. Our diet can be better managed if consumers are clearly aware of the levels of salt, sugar and fats, and improved labelling and healthy and affordable alternatives are an important link in the chain."
"I have been arguing for better labelling of trans fats and an EU wide reduction of these fats. I have held meetings with numerous food industry representatives and health organisations and have lobbied the European Commission to take action. The European Commission has taken these views on board and highlighted the need to improve the labelling of fats including trans fats and for the reformulation of products or the removal of dangerous fats to take place."
"Through the course of my work we have seen McDonald's in Ireland implement a 2% limit on trans fats in cooking oils ahead of schedule, KFC announce a similar measure to reduce trans fats in the UK and Ireland. In the UK 8 major food retailers have taken action to remove trans fats from own brand products, of these Marks and Spencer's and Tesco have extended this to Ireland, as will Boots by the end of this year. It is important that the healthy choice is there and affordable."
Continuing Senator Higgins asked the Irish food industry to take concrete measures to reduce the level of trans fats in their products.
"It is hoped that the Irish food industry will respond in a similar way to their British and Danish counterparts, Denmark who of course started this in 2003. I have contacted a number of food industry representatives in Ireland and hope to make progress on the issue soon so that Ireland's food industry is leading the way on the issue. The success of the proposed White Paper is dependant on the food industry taking a leading role."
Concluding Senator Higgins felt it was only a matter of time before it becomes a major issue for Irish consumers "I noted last week that the Food Safety Authority of Ireland will make details of trans fat content of packaged foodstuffs available this year. Once the true extent of trans fats is known I believe there will be a greater public demand for its removal from food in Ireland."
