News Date: Tuesday 24th October 2006
Tim Loughton MP welcomes British Heart Foundation's Food4Thought Campaign
Tim Loughton MP today welcomed the British Heart Foundation's (BHF) Food4Thought campaign, which is aimed at exposing the hidden salt, fat and sugar lurking in common foods, so children can better understand the potential damage it's doing to their hearts and health.
A new report for the BHF shows that half of 8 to 15-year-olds across the UK eat at least a bag of crisps a day and almost one in five eat crisps twice a day or more. At the heart of Food4Thought is an advertising campaign depicting a young girl drinking from a bottle of cooking oil with the caption 'What goes into crisps goes into you'.
The problem of poor diet and nutrition among children is a key factor in rising levels of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
A 2004 report revealed that only 13% of boys and 12% of girls across the UK reported eating the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables daily, and 10% reported eating no portions of fruit or vegetables in the previous day.
Tim commented:
"Fighting obesity is one of today's key public health challenges. Campaigns such as the Food4Thought are necessary in identifying and exposing the problem of unhealthy eating habits. The work of organisations like the BHF is vital in ensuring that young people are equipped to make informed choices about healthy eating and living."
?, Tim Loughton MP , 2006
