Meeting of the Parliament 09 December 2014
I am very tight for time.
Are people clear about what a balanced diet means? A focus on fad diets, even by the First Minister, does not change long-term habits and build good health.
The new body has a role to play in providing trusted information and the Government needs to support it in getting out that message. No coffee or kitchen-table book will be produced by the new body that competes with those that promise the latest starlet figure if people drink maple syrup—or whatever the latest fad is—but the Government and all partner agencies have a responsibility to promote clear messages and to do all that they can to support that by working with producers and suppliers.
We need to look at child obesity in particular. The reasons for such obesity are complex, but there is a lack of information for parents on portion size, calories and activity levels. Advice needs to be tailored and different from that provided to adults.
In the stage 1 debate, I focused on the organisation’s regulatory role and its responsibility for meat inspection. I say again that that must be robust and resourced. We have seen cuts in staff and inspection numbers; we have also seen such cuts at local authority level among environmental health officers. The new organisation will be challenged in reconciling capacity and demand to ensure food safety.
The reputation of Scotland’s food and drink sector is strong and the new organisation has an important role to play in keeping it that way.
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