After the US, it now seems to be Europe’s turn! In its efforts to promote healthy eating the 27-member bloc, European Union has told the food industry it has three years to make its products healthier or it could face stringent new regulations.
The EU favors self-regulation by the food industry over legislation in efforts to fight obesity. More than 15 million people in the EU are technically obese or overweight, out of a total population of 490 million, while an estimated 3 million schoolchildren are now obese.
The European Commission also unveiled proposals Wednesday for revising nutrition labeling on food products, promoting healthy eating programs, and tightening advertising standards on unhealthy processed food. It also wants sports organizations to encourage youngsters to do more physical exercise.
Obesity has been found most amongst the children propelled by a toxic environment, which simultaneously restricts mobility and stimulates high-energy intake. Mainly diet induced it is the result of energy dense foods with high sugar content such rather than fresh fruits and vegetables.
I doubt if voluntary measures can influence people’s snacking culture. Children are much influenced by unhealthy food ads, commercially targeted at them with school-based marketing. The European Union should take more pro-active measures instead on depending on voluntary results.
Source: Spiegel
