The ministry of junk food

Practitioners feature | by Bill Tara | on: Friday, 17 December 2010

Yesterday I opened my morning paper to see what surreal events had taken place overnight; I am never disappointed. Aside from the usual catastrophic acts of human stupidity and greed was an article that warmed my heart; the British Government - that noble coalition of Conservative and Liberal Democrat minds - has made a great leap forward in creating a healthy diet for the nation. It's about time too.

Obesity in the UK has trebled in the last two decades in a last ditch attempt to catch up with America. Alcohol related deaths have doubled in the past fifteen years. Both of these figures point to increased diabetes in the population, not to mention heart disease and a variety of other troubling issues. The impact is most dramatic among the young. The health services estimate that diet related disease costs over £6bn a year and alcohol related illness at £2.7bn. That's quite a lot of preventable disease but have no fear the new government report: "We're All in This Together, Improving the Long Term Health of the Nation" is due out this week. When people wake up, after having been lulled to sleep by the ponderous title, things can really get going.

The government has invited the chairman of Unilever, one of the largest producers of industrial fats, to take the bull by the horns. His team will include directors of Tesco supermarkets, Pizza Hut, PepsiCo, Kentucky Fired Chicken (can we hope for the Colonel himself?), MacDonald's, Kraft Foods, Kellogg's, Mars and representatives of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association. Who's left to do the catering? Talk about a powerful team, talk about expert opinion, talk about cow pucky.

One of the most frightening things is that what was once done behind closed doors can now be done right out in plain daylight. We expect this corrupt approach to dealing with problems; we expect the incestuous and immoral back scratching between governments and business. We also know in advance what the recommendations will be – aside from useless.

We will be told that the industry in "concerned" with the public use of their products, we will be told that "moderation" is the key and that a new colourful label has been developed by marketing committee that shows if the sugar level in a drink is "Only slightly more than you think", "Close to excessive" or "Enough to rot your bones". Asking the companies that produce the most damaging foods to help create government policy is certain to stall and halt any real reform. I suppose that the Columbian drug cartels will be sending representatives to the next governmental committees deciding how to control crack cocaine.

One thing is certain; the greatest damage will be to the health of the next generation who are being psychologically and biologically conditioned to accept a toxic diet as normal. It is increasingly true that governments at both ends of the political spectrum are unwilling to risk the anger of business even when the public welfare is in danger. Republican or Democrat, Labour or Conservative it's who buys the election that gets to sit at the table and decide what's on the menu.

When public environmental policy is dictated by polluters, when health care is decreed by insurance and drug companies, the economy of nations ruled by banks and dietary policy controlled by junk food manufacturers it is time to realize that the system does not work.

I sometimes hear people say that they like to have a little junk food for fun on occasion or that they don't want to deprive their children or appear to be "rigid" about their food. It sounds so sensible except that discernment is not rigidity and every time we support big business we are sleeping with the enemy. It is incredibly difficult to be a total purist about anything but we can probably all make more of an effort. The social energy to create change is not only with us but also with our friends and associates.

With humour and without being self-righteous, we can all be forceful advocates of dietary change. Resistance to dietary change is greatly influenced by a childish attitude about freedom of action. There is an overriding resistance to making a commitment that can be seen as rejecting cultural norms. Food is one of the ways that we identify ourselves as part of a society. Helping others see the food game in a different light that celebrates the enjoyment of natural cuisine, making good information available and challenging the half-truths of the diet industry are revolutionary acts.

A big part of the revolution in health care will be based on a platform of dietary reform that is driven by consumers not companies. It is the educated and discerning consumer who will change food policy. It is the family that knows how to select and prepare healthy meals that can become a powerful resource for the community. Our success will depend on the integrity of daily action and how we model a healthy, happy and earth friendly way of life for the next generation.