Press Release: February 2008: NHF welcomes first steps to a leaner population

05 February 2008

Responding to the publication of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Saturated Fat and Energy reduction program today, 5th February 2008, Paul Lincoln, chief executive of the National Heart Forum said:

"We fully support the FSA program to reduce levels of saturated fat and sugar in foods, currently levels of saturated fat consumption in children are particularly high and whilst food manufacturers refuse to adopt the clear effective labelling traffic light system set out by the FSA, the spectre of passive obesity will remain. This will be a crucial step in meeting the Governments PSA target to reduce obesity amongst children and meeting the challenges set out in the Governments recently published Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives*".

He went on "It is vital that the program is independently monitored, ensuring for instance that levels are not just reduced by substituting equally harmful ingredients such as transfats. In order to meet the diet related health challenges we currently face the National Heart Forum would also like to see a clear challenging target for sugar reduction set in foods particularly those aimed at children".

Press Contacts

Paul Lincoln or Tim Marsh on (T) 020 7383 7638 or (M) 07713 514942 (T Marsh) or 07946 433215 (P Lincoln)

Notes to editors

* Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: A Cross Government Strategy for England is published by Department of Health.
For a copy of the strategy visit http://tinyurl.com/36rp5h