Tuesday, 13 September 2016

Why, Yes, Of Course 'More Action' Should Be Taken...

Parents are still packing their children’s school lunchboxes with junk food, despite high-profile awareness campaigns on childhood obesity and guidance provided by consumer groups, research has found. The Leeds University study published on Tuesday found just 1.6% of packed lunches for primary school children met tough nutritional standards set for their classmates eating in the school canteen.
 ...I mean, perish the thought that there should be anything the state doesn't have any control over, eh?
The study, described as “eye opening” by lead researcher Dr Charlotte Evans, saw only a fractional improvement from a decade ago, when 1.1% of lunches passed the standard set for school meals.
I'm rather pleased to see that 98.9% of parents thought 'Sod you, nanny state! I'LL decide what I feed my kids'...

Naturally, the usual suspects be fewmin':
Evans said: “I hope the results of the study are an eye-opener, highlighting that more stringent policies need to be introduced if we want to see real change in the nutritional value of children’s packed lunches. New policies for schools, food manufacturers and retailers are needed, which will require strong support from government and stakeholders if progress is to be made.”
"People aren't obeying! Crack down HARDER!"
The report recommends that primary schools introduce a policy restricting sweetened drinks and encouraging water, salad and fruit. It also suggested parents pack smaller portions of the unhealthy snacks, such as packets of crisps that are around 15g rather than 26g and chocolate cakes and biscuits of 20g.
So schools should inspect all lunchboxes? FFS!
Sharon Hodgson MP, chair of the all-party parliamentary group for school food, said: “The research highlights the need for more action to be taken on food put in children’s packed lunches, something which the school food APPG has recently called for. Despite positive moves with regards to the food provided as part of a school meal, food brought in by children in their packed lunches is lagging behind. Therefore we need more action to be taken if we want to see positive changes.”
I think we do indeed need 'more action' to be taken. But I'd rather it was to strip these parasites of any government funding for their wasted time...

9 comments:

Bill in St Louis said...

Government and stakeholders? Who are these "stakeholders"? Given the context, it can't be the parents who pack these lunches, so maybe the govt is owned by some mysterious "stakeholders" ?

stengle said...

"More stringent policies need to be introduced"

Is there no end to the misery that the self-appointed dictators will pile on the people of these islands?

Of course, the real shock here is that over the past ten years the kids all survived such terrible lunch boxes, though I admit that there a lot of fat bar stewards around these days. But then, telly and video games have never been 'better' and every reason to stay in and seated. However when everyone is scared to go out and exercise because it might offend someone or give them bad thoughts, maybe that's the problem.

Umbongo said...

Interestingly Sharon Hodgson although not a complete bloater might be described as, well, fat. Maybe, before mouthing off like the little authoritarian she is, she should take her own advice and eat a little less.

Weekend Yachtsman said...

"The current voluntary option is not working"

Stand by for compulsion...

Kevin said...

Lamposts and piano wire are in plentiful supply.

Barnacle Bill said...

Of course one way to meet the requirements of these sponsored by our money parasites is to have state issued/approved packed lunches.

Then see everyone complaining about the waste as the children vote with their taste buds!

Simon and his Dad said...

When my son was at Primary School, he is now 17, so a good few years ago, their lunchboxes were checked by the dinner ladies and food confiscated if it didnt meet the requirements, one of which was no chocolate or crisps.

So he joined the school council, purely because the school supplied chocolate biscuits at the meetings.

Ted Treen said...

@Kevin

And piano wire is re-usable, so it ticks all the :green" boxes too.

JuliaM said...

"...so maybe the govt is owned by some mysterious "stakeholders" ?"

It's certainly in thrall to the usual suspects, isn't it? May needs to grow a pair, fast!

"Is there no end to the misery that the self-appointed dictators will pile on the people of these islands?"

I refer you to C S Lewis...

"Maybe, before mouthing off like the little authoritarian she is, she should take her own advice and eat a little less."

Meh, she's a ways to go yet..!

"Then see everyone complaining about the waste as the children vote with their taste buds!"

I start my Underground Railroad to the chippy the very next day!

"So he joined the school council, purely because the school supplied chocolate biscuits at the meetings."

Smart young man! :D