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AFGC preventing health reforms, say experts

Public health experts across the country have blamed the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) for preventing the introduction of policies that fight diet-related diseases such as obesity.

On a recent ABC Lateline program, experts accused the AFGC for being too involved with the Government and compared the Council to big tobacco companies.

"We have foods that are causing an enormous burden of premature death and disability because of excess salt, excess saturated fat, huge numbers of calories in small portion sizes," Sydney University Professor Bruce Neal, from the George Institute for Global Health, told Lateline.

"What we’re not seeing is the Food and Grocery Council taking the leadership to try and make this better.

"Instead what we’re seeing is the Food and Grocery Council sort of employing delaying tactics, watering down the key strategies here."

Obesity researcher, Professor Boyd Swinburn, from Deakin University said the AFGC was the “single biggest barrier” to preventing obesity in Australia.

National Preventative Health Taskforce chair Rob Moodie compared the actions of the AFGC to those of tobacco companies.

"Certainly, the food industry has far too strong a voice. And it’s using some of the same tactics as the tobacco companies have used over the years," Moodie told ABC’s Lateline.

AFGC’s chief executive Kate Carnell denied the accusations, saying the consumption of cancer-causing cigarettes was not the same as eating too much chocolate

"It’s obviously silly. Tobaccoes – cigarettes kills you. One cigarette is one too many," she told Lateline.

"One chocolate is not one chocolate too many. The simple message that somehow confectionary causes obesity is simply silly, whereas tobacco does cause cancer."

Carnell said the AFGC had pushed for the food and health dialogue, which aims to address poor dietary habits and promote healthier food choices for Australians.
 

Image: moneytime.com.au

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