Food choice is a heavy burden

Wednesday, September 1, 2004

The parent outraged at children being bombarded with advertisements for unhealthy food and drink (Letters, 5 August) summed up the situation perfectly. But food manufacturers have been fiercely lobbying the Government against banning children's advertisements. In fact, companies already have other ways of getting at children, such as through their mobile phones - and in school. In spite of companies' increasing school involvement, Ofsted's new report (Special Report, 19 August) fails to address this. It also lets Government, caterers and local authorities off the hook and puts all the responsibility for good food on to teachers and children. For example, Ofsted wants children to choose baked potato over chips, but it doesn't ask why, if chips are the 'wrong' choice, children are being offered them. In no other area of childcare do we select 'choices' that we know are not in the children's interest.