Most major restaurant and fast-food chains fail to provide basic standards of food for children, research suggests today.Yes, the numbers of children stumbling out onto the high street with rickets or kwashiorkor or uncontrollable diarrhea is stunning, isn't it? Or even dying!
Meals aimed at children are still dominated by unhealthy options such as chicken nuggets, burgers and sausages – with few fruit or vegetables, a survey of 21 of the nation’s most popular chains found.Well, they’re called things like ‘Kentucky Fried Chicken’ and ‘Burger King’ and ‘Pizza Hut’, not ‘Finger Lickin’ Broccoli’ or ‘Lettuce A Go Go’.
But this is, of course, just more rent-seeking, and from the usual suspects too:
. The campaign, run by the Soil Association and Organix, is calling for the restaurant industry to improve children’s menus.Which translates as ‘Buy and serve more of our produce and less of our competitors produce’…
Joanna Lewis, head of policy at the Soil Association, said: “Our investigation reveals that most high-street restaurants are not even meeting the most basic standards families should expect when they eat out. Most are still churning out children’s menus dominated by the usual suspects – burgers, nuggets and pizzas – turning the table into a battlefield for any parents wanting their child to eat well.”Well, only for those who've not yet learned how to say ‘Eat your greens or you aren't getting a dessert’.
And who can afford to take their children out for a meal every day? An occasional treat of nuggets and pizzas won’t hurt, providing they aren't being fed the same stuff at home as well.
And if they are…well, how is that the restaurant’s problem?
5 comments:
Would it satisfy the Soil Association if McD started offering fries made from Organic Spuds? Naturally, there'd be a 25% smaller serving for the price of inorganic ones, so everyone's a winner.
The solution is that the Soil Association and Organix pour millions into their own restaurant, as there's clearly an unmet demand.
(ironically, the Graun reader's favourite bete noire, McDonalds, offers a huge variety of healthy options for kids).
"...research suggests..."
Whenever you hear these weasel words, think to yourself "evidence free nannying on a par with astrology".
"Naturally, there'd be a 25% smaller serving for the price of inorganic ones, so everyone's a winner."
:D
"The solution is that the Soil Association and Organix pour millions into their own restaurant, as there's clearly an unmet demand."
I bet it'd go down as well as the 'Guardian' coffee shop!
".... most high-street restaurants are not even meeting the most basic standards families should expect when they eat out."
Should? Is that a little jab at the parents too?
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