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Calls for snacking to be banned on public transport.
The outgoing chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies has suggested that snacking should be banned on public transport. Also in order to tackle childhood obesity, extra taxes should be placed on unhealthy food. There should also be tighter rules on takeaways and advertising.
She is of the opinion that children are drowning in a flood of unhealthy options and need more help.
The government has set a target to halve obesity rates by 2013. Many children are suffering painful, potentially life-limiting diseases.
The proportion of overweight and obese children has doubled in the last 30 years.
The ban on public transport is aimed at children on the way to and from school and will only apply to local transport trains, buses, trams, and metro networks. She wants the ban to also apply to adults so that they can teach children good behaviour.
Inter-city trains with buffet cars would not be covered. There would be exemptions for people who may need to eat because of medical conditions. Breastfeeding would be allowed and everyone would be able to drink water.
It is believed that ministers will study the recommendations closely.
Some of the measures put forward are new while some are about extending existing policies. They include :
Phasing out all marketing, and advertising and sponsorship of unhealthy food and drink.
Banning food and drink on local public transport with exceptions for water, breastfeeding and medical conditions.
Free water refills to be available at all food outlets, transport stations, and all public sector buildings.
Regular car-free weekends across the country to encourage physical activity.
Changing planning rules to make it harder to open a fast food takeaway.
Extending the sugar tax to include milk-based drinks.
Adding VAT to unhealthy food products that a currently zero-rated such as cakes,
Capping calories in the food served out of the home to combat rising portion sizes,
Consider plain packaging for junk food, if a firm fails to reduce sugar, fat, and salt in its products quickly enough.
All nurseries, registered childminders and schools to adopt water and milk only policies.
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