News in brief 1

Obesity levels in Britain could soar up to 40 per cent or higher within a single generation unless urgent action is taken, according to global health think tank The International Obesity Taskforce.

The Food Standards Agency has published a discussion paper on possible options for action on the promotion of foods that could improve children’s diet and health, including advice to ministers calling for the introduction of legislation on advertising and food labelling.

But IOTF chair Professor Philip James said ‘stronger action was needed, and not fudged options such as those just suggested by the FSA’. He added: ‘Politicians need to understand that regulation is required and that it is a popular move. It is what the majority of parents in every country we work with places as one of their top priorities.’

www.iotf.org
www.foodstandards.gov.uk

The Unison-backed Right to Care campaign has presented a 100,000 name petition to Downing Street calling for both nursing and personal care for older people to be available on the basis of need, free at the point of use and funded from general taxation. In England the care provided by nursing and healthcare assistants is classified as personal care and has to be paid for.

www.unison.org.uk

Tentative agreement on international standards for baby milks and foods has been reached in Bonn. The joint food standard setting body rejected a proposed ban on GM ingredients for baby milks and foods and failed to address concern over the risks of soya infant formulas.

Patti Rundall of pressure group International Baby Food Action Network said decisions on food safety ‘should be based on independent scientific research not the commercial priorities of food companies’.