UK & World News
- 5 January 2013, 21:45
Burnham: High-Sugar Cereals Should Be Banned
High-sugar breakfast cereals should be banned to stop children getting fat, according to the shadow health secretary Andy Burnham.
The Labour frontbencher said regulations should be introduced to cap the levels of salt, fat and sugar in food.
Mr Burnham has started garnering public and expert opinion on the subject as part of a consultation on tackling obesity.
"If we fail to act we are storing up huge problems for the country and the NHS in the long term," he said.
He is floating the idea of a 30% cap on sugar in cereals, arguing that many children's breakfast cereals are over one-third sugar by weight.
"I don't think any parent would be comfortable with their child eating something that is 40% sugar," he told The Daily Telegraph.
Last week, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development figures revealed 26.6% of British girls were obese and 22.7% of boys - double that of youngsters in France.
The coalition says voluntary deals with industry through the Responsibility Deal has cut salt, fat and sugar content in our food.
But Mr Burnham says the current voluntary approach is not working and new drastic measures are required to combat childhood obesity.
Update:
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what do you think?
moonfleet
30% sugar is far too high, 10% is more like it. It's no wonder children suffer with health problems later in life if we deaden their palates by exposing them to high sugar and salt levels at an early age.
pjbeckett
------------ and women should banned from being photographed bending down in supermarkets while wearing tatty old faded jeans.
Andrea Hill
i know, the way some people dress to go to supermarket, you dont need expensive clothes to look tidy,.some dont make any effort.
Vladtheinhaler .
you're a female, then
Liz Fox
An excellent idea!
Paul Walsh
What a waste of this mans time. Stop 'nannying' us. Let us make our own decisions and suffer the consequence of those decisions. Why doesn't he concentrate on trying to get the NHS sorted out (even in opposition!)? The NHS that his party let down while they were in power!
Katydid
Its worth bearing in mind that it was the Labour Party that created the NHS and it is the Tories that continue to attempt to privatise and denigrate the service. It is the whole country that picks up the tab for an obese population.
davenlesley
Katy. That was 65 years ago and it is a very differnt beast now. The horror stories emerging from our hospitals on a regular basis shame us all and are nothing to boast about. Envy of the world ? My rs
Vladtheinhaler .
But we still have a free nhs, and it's all because of labour. Imagine if it hadn't been created and the tory /united states system was adopted. Any massive organisation will have problems, especially when being attacked constantly by a government that fundamentally is opposed to it's existence.
davenlesley
No Vlad. The Labour govt set up the NHS and all credit to them but it is not still free because of them. Whilst in opposition they were powerless but the NHS remained free. I like the way you justify the many problems the NHS has with a dismissive because its big and the Tories don't like it. Try and be objective for once without allowing your Labour =good, Tory = bad mentality get in the way
Name witheld
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
Vladtheinhaler .
Typical tory response. not looking at the content , just responding to the mans political status. He's labour, so everything he says must be bad, eh? Typical blinkered Tory
Brian Holmes
It would make more sense to educate children in schools about what is healthy/unhealthy and teach them how to cook.
Katydid
This is being taught in schools now and it has been for a long time.
shirley sutton
Then the should educate the parents who feed them fast food and let them sit in front of the tv, computer and game stations instead of getting exercise
Vladtheinhaler .
Exercise is secondary, and the lack of it doesn't make you unhealthy. It makes you a stronger person, no doubt. The primary cause of the problem is filling our kids with rubbish, in the first place.
Lisa Morris
I totally agree. If children were taught how to cook descent meals they wudnt live on processed rubbish wen they were older. Andy Burnham wants to tackle real problems like the state of the health service.
Diane Rogers
Katy.not sure about that, all my children learnt to 'cook' was things like fruit salad healthy but not cooking.Surely it is down to parents to educate their children
shaun spencer
Kids should really burn this off during the day. But they are stuck in doors all day behind games consoles and computers we need to bring back cowboys and indians.
davenlesley
Shaun. The cowboys are all at Westminster and any more indians would bring howls of protest about immigration
shaun spencer
Hmmm i suppose that wouldnt be very p.c now.okay a good old game of war.fighting the germans
Valerie Wood
The Germans bombed our chippy :(
shaun spencer
Well ive got my water pistol loaded valerie, we ought to declare war on them again for bombing your chippy.trouble is who on here wants to play a german.
Valerie Wood
thought you might do the honours shaun. Just put a potty on your head and bingo there you are - a German soldier :)
davenlesley
We know that too much sugar and fat is not good for your health but why do we need legislation to FORCE people into a certain pattern of behaviour. Coming on top of the story about reducing fat peoples benefits this type of thinking, which is becoming all too common, really concerns me. And all they say is its for your own good. How about a statutory requirement to exercise for 4 hours every day and a ban on X boxes & computer games ??.
Vladtheinhaler .
People are basically lazy. By removing temptation, and removing food that has concealed amounts of rubbish, can only help the health of the population. How can people object to this, i just don't understand. This Labour /Tory battle is pathetic. If Thatcher had came out with this , i would have been right behind her, and i would like nothing better than seeing her having all her teeth pulled out with rusty pliers.
davenlesley
Vlad. How can people object to this ? Just remember those words when politicians impose something else on us, for our own good, which you disagree with. I also don't see where the Tory/Labour connection is. I don't want these sort of nanny state diktats imposed on me by any party
gengisken1227
A politician from the nanny state rears his head again to tell everyone how to live their lives down to the smallest detail. They couldn't organise a proverbial drinks party in a brewery, yet once elected become instant experts on everything - and will never admit to being wrong, misguided, stupid or downright arrogant: which is most of the time. Andy Burnham MP, a man so concerned with children's teeth - yet not one word nor any action on children being abused by ped o rings.
davenlesley
Gengis. They wont stop until every aspect of our lives is controlled and there will be no need to make choices. Govt instruction manuals on how to live our lives will soon be dropping thru the letterbox backed of course by legislation
Vladtheinhaler .
So every time Burnham tries to help kids eat less rubbish, he has to also cure every other problem in society regarding kids. One at a time , eh. Being Labour, he could cure Maleria, and you Tories would still say he should be doing something else. Pathetic, really. Take every mans efforts on face value. He's trying to do something for the good, not for his fat mates.
davenlesley
Vlad .If you want to bring politics into this so be it. It is a great pity Burnham didn't spend more time when he was Health secretary stopping the hospitals he was responsible from killing people with their neglect, poor practices and in some cases downright incompetance
t.bulgin
Vlad accusing others of making things political....hahahaha....now that rich ! Did you read the items on obesity ? The comments where not divided by party lines and neither are these.
Facebook User
Cap this, cap that, perhaps there should be a cap on capping.
Nigel L
Eric Pickles for health minister
Steven Tracey
The easiest way to resolve this is to see what has changed. My food sugar/salt/fat content was just as high, I had computer games and TV too but the one thin I had that most kids don't were parents who played with me, took me places and didn't just fob me off with crisps and Xbox. Probably explains why I have two fit and healthy teenagers (with cookie crisp and mobiles/Xbox too). Take them out, show them the world and burn some calories while you at it.
joelle cooke
well done!!!
Phil A
Here we go again! They won't be happy until they control even the smallest aspect of our lives. We need to make it plain to them that they should keep their snouts out of our lives.
Steven Tracey
Best way to do that would be to stop blaming the government for things like child obesity and take responsibility for our own. Most people I meet can't cook even simple things like bread and need traffic lights on food because after 30+ years they still don't know the difference between a Carb and a protein. Lazy convenient lives wont keep you healthy
joelle cooke
@Steven Tracey,I fully agree,people should stop blaming the government,and start taking responsibility for their own life,(obesity)
davenlesley
Steven/Joelle. Take responsibility for your lives and actions?? Wherever did you hear such dangerous nonsense. That way you can't blame someone else for everything that happens to you.
t.bulgin
I agree with the sentiment but a lot of people are not capable of thinking about what they eat. they just see somthing that looks nice at the right price. The traffic light system sounds a good idea, as long as its very clear on packaging and people are educated about it.
Paul Davies
I just think its funny that all the people supporting this will also be the first to complain when they can't get anything nice to eat anymore because it was too unhealthy! Everything in moderation people, its not the sugar or salt or anything in food making kids or anyone else fat, it is a lack of self restraint and knowledge/intentional ignorance!
Vladtheinhaler .
So lets keep packing the shelves with garbage, eh. Nice one.
davenlesley
Paul. And there is one of them. Vlad won't be happy until no one is able to think for themselves and we are all controlled by a central govt computer via a micro chip implant.
t.bulgin
Professional moaners Paul.
shaun spencer
I got say some of these cereals arent good coco pops for example.its basically rice crispies covered in hot chocolate.
davenlesley
Shaun. So many cereals are full of sugar including the so called health options like Jordans crunchy. Don't eat them. Try shredded wheat or cheerios which contain much less sugar.
shaun spencer
I actually put honey on ours, but its expensive.my other half buys brown sugar for us but we only eat the old fashioned cereals like shreddied wheat, bran and shreddies.though i used to be a honey monster myself not too long ago.
davenlesley
Shaun. I like honey in porridge. Yummy
Vladtheinhaler .
It's pretty obvious the Tories are out in force , today. How can you object to reducing a childs intake of sugar. Only if it's suggested by the opposition. Drop the politic bias you idiots, kids are kids, not voters. Even a hardened Thatcherites little darlings will suffer poor health with excess sugar consumption.
davenlesley
Vlad .Why keep trotting out your political bias?.It was Tory Westminster council which suggested penalising fat people by docking benefits and I was equally vociferous in denouncing them as control freaks
t.bulgin
You are the first one to make things political Vlad. I notice that even when you condemn others for making things political you still can't resist a little dig at "Thatcherites". Drop the political bias yourself and take some gaviscon or something, Mr angry.
Mac G
What Andy Burnham should do is consult Mary Poppins, she always advocated that - 'a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down'.
Adrian Wagstaff
Mr Burnham is only suggesting there should be a study of how much salt and sugar there should be in food. Salt and sugar have historically been used as food preservatives. I remember reading a book about dried fruit and these use their own sugar content as a preservative. When I went to schools in Scotland and Germany, I found, during the winter months, I wanted plenty of energy before I went to school and froze, shivering in the school playgrounds, then I wanted more energy during lunch times. Children are also growing and therefore their energy requirements are not the same as adults. Salt and sugar are used as preservatives to kill harmful bacteria and reducing the content of salt and sugar in food might have adverse consequences apart from lessening shelf life of some products. I don't know how much salt and sugar there should be in food or how much fat. Clearly, lard is almost totally fat, if not totally. We must remember, the brain itself is made up of a lot of cholesterol. It makes sense, to me, to have continuing studies of dietary requirements of all people, living under various conditions, for as long as necessary, if not the entirety of the foreseeable future and even beyond. I imagine even beyond 3,000 AD?
davenlesley
Adrian. No he is not suggesting a study he is saying they should be banned. I agree with you that it is used as a preservative and to extend the shelf life and think a simple traffic light system should be used to indicate levels of sugar & salt in a product. That way I can exercise my personal choice & judgement without govt sticking their nose in.
t.bulgin
Your right Davenlesley, something should be done but not banning. Banning things should be a last resort or we'll end up in a sterile, neutral and bland world.
Nick Bowden
What a nanny state this country is
jeremypaine
7:09am on 5/1/2013
Absolute rubbish! Ban Mobile phones and computer games....that might help, all kids want to do these days is text and sit and play games. Many fat kids don't even have Breakfast !! They will have to ban selling sugar in shops then because if the Cereals hav'nt got much sugar kids and adults (me) will just put more sugar on them !! I have always said its better for children to have a breakfast (anything) in the morning than nothing. This Mr Burnham has not got a clue. I should know I have a few Sweet Shops :) I have Sweets everyday but I also exercise and eat fruit and proper meals. I'm 40 weigh 10 stone and dentist tells me I have teenager teeth ! But I dont drink OR smoke.
Andrea Hill
9:51am on 5/1/2013
you so right jeremy.
Katydid
10:48am on 5/1/2013
You own a few sweet shops? If so, perhaps you have a vested interest in the high consumption of sugar by children?
jane cumming
12:28pm on 5/1/2013
You proberly bore everyone else to death instead.lol
shaun spencer
1:41pm on 5/1/2013
Your statement has got to be one of the most ludicrous ones ive ever read on here.in fact its hilarious thinking about it.what a hypacrite if ever there was one.i bet your dentist is pleased with you, you proberly provide him with all his customers.
shirley sutton
1:45pm on 5/1/2013
He's got a point it's not just the sugar it's the sitting around all day in front of a computer or game station. And no exercise that's the problem and are they going to ban everything they deem to be bad for us there's such a thing as freedom of choice
shaun spencer
1:47pm on 5/1/2013
Well im against killing animals to eat, have cruelty issues, and am vegatarian but i am thinking of bying a butchers.lol. lol
Vladtheinhaler .
2:54pm on 5/1/2013
Doesn't drink or smoke. Weighs in at 10 stone. Owns a few sweet shops...... Now i know you. You're the guy off chitty chitty bang bang..... the child catcher. Do yourself a favour, go and buy 20 smokes, get down to the pub and have a blast. You might even enjoy it. It's bad for you, but that's what you're selling the kids, a bad lifestyle.
shaun spencer
3:21pm on 5/1/2013
I dont think we ought be too cruel.the man does make a similar comment i make later here.its just the irony thats so funny here, especially as he goes on to say how pleased his dentist is with him.its hilarious.