Children’s diets: where are we going?

1. Children’s diets: where are we going? Dr Carrie Ruxton Principal Nutrition Consultant

2. What we know about children’s diets in the UK

3. Most children not meeting diet targets National Diet & Nutrition Survey (2000)

4. Energy sources skewed National Diet and Nutrition Survey n=837, 4-10 years

5. Av. vitamins & minerals OK

6. Some children have low intakes National Diet & Nutrition Survey (2000)

7. Many school lunches not meeting nutrient targets Source: Nelson et al (2005)

8. UK children getting fatter English girls 6-10y

9. Government response

10. Food Standards Agency ideas • Signposting – labelling that shows at a glance whether foods healthy or not • Controls on food advertising to children • Action to reduce salt in products by setting targets for industry • Regulations for school meal caterers • Regulations for schools e.g. vending, tuckshops • Guidance for parents for pack lunches

11. Signposting • Labelling initiative • FSA wants consumers to choose more green foods and reduce red foods • Voluntary scheme • Traffic light system tested on consumers

12. Implications for industry • FSA wants signposting on ready meals, breakfast cereals, coated poultry & fish, meat products, pizzas, sandwiches • All spreads classified as RED even if ‘low fat’. Low sugar jams still RED. • Target for ‘total sugar’ not added sugar and cut-off lower than expected • Naming and shaming?

13. Advertising curbs • FSA wants OfCom to ban adverts of ‘less healthy’ foods to children • FSA-funded research showed children desire foods when exposed to advertising • Industry claims that children respond to category advertising but don’t increase overall intakes • OfCom put ideas out to consultation, including partial and full bans • Response and decision awaited

14. Nutrient profiling • Formula: ‘A’ points for energy, saturated fat, added sugar, salt MINUS ‘C’ points for fruit, veg, nuts, protein, fibre • Food classified as ‘less healthy’ if final score >=4 • Beverage classified as ‘less healthy’ if final score >=1

15. Implications for industry • Advertising curbs will most affect confectionery, breakfast cereals, soft drinks and fast foods • FSA recommended that all forms of marketing addressed e.g. texts, websites, promotions • Opportunity for companies with healthier product ranges

16. Other policies influencing children’s food

17. 4-6 year olds 1 piece of fruit or veg per day in term-time Evaluation showed no long-term benefits Now being re-evaluated School Fruit & Vegetable Scheme

18. Fruit & veg evaluation * * * * * * Statistically different from baseline

19. England, Wales, Northern Ireland • School Food Trust to provide leadership • Ongoing revision of school lunch standards including pack lunch targets • Ofsted to monitor quality of meals • Training for school caterers • Free fruit & vegetable scheme • Tuck shop and vending policies • Guidelines on packed lunches for parents

20. Scottish Diet Action Plan Physical activity strategy Active Schools Hungry for Success Scotland

21. Republic of Ireland • Voluntary food & nutrition guidelines for primary schools introduced 2003 • Emphasis on health promotion and the Food Pyramid • Few Irish children take school lunches • Fruit and veg promotion via Food Dudes

22. Conclusions • Children’s diets need improving but they are not as bad as the media make out • Plenty of new Govt initiatives aimed at restricting and re-directing children’s food choices • Threats and opportunities for industry