Chocolates cut down to size

2004-09-28 08:45

London - If you want to lose weight - eat less ... chocolate.

Britain's drive to reduce obesity now includes cutting larger chocolate bars down to size, the food and drink industry said on Monday.

Reducing portion sizes is one of seven pledges set out in the first Manifesto for Food and Health published by Britain's Food and Drink Federation, which includes industry heavyweights Coca-Cola, Kellogg's, Kraft Foods, Nestle, Pepsi and Weetabix.

It has been under pressure from the government to promote healthy eating, and in particular to stop the aggressive marketing of sugary and fatty foods to children.

"The industry has always said it wants to be part of the solution on food and health," said a spokesperson for the federation. "The manufacturing industry is already providing wider choice, changing the way it is marketing to children and changing its recipes."

The manifesto promises clearer food labelling that gives full nutritional information, including salt and its equivalents.

Members of the federation also promise to make their products healthier by reducing sugar, salt at fat levels and to look at reducing overall portion sizes.

Candy maker Cadbury Trebor Bassett says it will phase out king-size chocolate bars in 2005.

Vending machines will be removed from primary schools and members will tighten self-regulatory codes on advertising to children.

The British Heart Foundation says that in the past decade, the proportion of clinically obese adults has risen from 14% of the population to 22%. Some 22% of boys and 28% of girls are now considered overweight or obese. Statistics also show that 85% of men and 69% of women eat too much salt.

Critics said the industry plan does not go far enough.

"It's halfhearted, and the industry won't be able to claim it is behaving in a responsible way until it stops aggressive advertising of unhealthy foods to children," said a spokesperson for food and farming group Sustain.

Others felt it went too far.

"Personal behaviour is increasingly controlled by government commandments," complained a Daily Telegraph editorial on Monday. "Now one of the few remaining freedoms, the freedom to eat yourself stupid, is under threat."

- AP