Much is made by government of the need for consumers to eat better in order to reduce obesity levels and malnutrition; but are they ‘practicing what they preach’?
The recent changes in school governance and control has seen the removal of nutrition standards from schools, particularly Academies, potentially wasting 5 or more years of improvements in what the state feeds its most vulnerable citizens.
However, all this change has done is help to unmask the inadequate controls that exist, wherever the public purse funds or supports the feeding of the nation. There are no minimum standards expected and monitored in hospitals, care homes, prisons, further education establishments, emergency services or schools.
Successive governments have had a clear ‘do as we say not as we do strategy’.
This report shows the health, social and economic cost of poor diet in the UK. It will make clear how making the right investment now could stand to save taxpayers many times more in reduced NHS spending and business costs in future, not to mention the huge social benefits that will flow from a healthier population.
Finally, the report has also researched consumer awareness of the impact of poor diet on their health, particularly in relation to the physical and mental consequences. The findings are simply startling, calling into question the impact of government information initiatives such as ‘Change for Life’ and ‘Food for Life’.
The PS100 Group have concluded from the report that a ‘show and tell’ approach must be adopted as a simple ‘tell’ approach is not sufficient. This leads to the call for minimum nutrition standards to be instigated as quickly as is viable.
Early next year the PS100 group will publish the minimum standards that need to be attained across all age groups and in all situations where the state has a responsibility to ensure that people are fed in a nutritious and healthy manner.
Click here to register your support for the PS100 groups objectives and to get regular updates on their activities.
Click to download and read the following report and executive summary: