Day 055 - 25 Nov 94 - Page 09

     
     1        are there dental concerns about any food or drink eaten
     2        late at night -- not just sweets?
     3        A.  Yes, there are.
     4
     5   Q.   What, for dental reasons?
     6        A.  Yes.  In fact, the new rule covers all foods, except
     7        those such as mineral water which can be shown to have no
     8        implications for dental health.
     9
    10   Q.   So point (c), do you want to comment about point (c)?
    11        A.  Again, this is interpreted in regard to particular
    12        advertisements.  It seeks to ensure that certain foods
    13        named here as confectionery or snack foods -- though it has
    14        to be accepted that "snack foods" is a very loose
    15        definition in this context -- may not be substituted for
    16        balanced meals.
    17
    18   Q.   When you say "loosely" for "snack foods" could that, in
    19        your opinion, apply to McDonald's food?
    20        A.  If eaten as a snack, then I think it would.  But
         I think that part of the problem with this particular rule
    22        is that it is not clear what is a snack food.  A snack food
    23        can be an apple, it can be a chocolate bar, it can be a bag
    24        of chips, it can be a soft drink; it could be an enormous
    25        range of foods.  I think it is a rather loosely worded and
    26        not hugely helpful rule in relation to the overall concerns
    27        about childhood nutrition.
    28
    29   Q.   What is the spirit of that, 11(c)?
    30        A.  The spirit of it would be to ensure that snacking does
    31        not replace eating what may be considered balanced meals.
    32        I think that is a concern to many parents.
    33
    34   Q.   What is the effect of this, of the advertising relevant to
    35        that section, overall?
    36        A.  Certainly, the overall effect of high levels of
    37        advertising for foods that are snacks, and I have talked
    38        about the large numbers of advertising for confectionery,
    39        for example; even breakfast cereals these days are often
    40        eaten as snacks, and advertising encourages them to be
         eaten in that way to some extent; also other savoury
    42        snacks, soft drinks.  These are foods that are often eaten
    43        as snacks.
    44
    45        The sum total of advertising messages, I believe, is that
    46        children are likely to believe that these kinds of foods
    47        are attractive and desirable, and will thus be more greatly
    48        encouraged towards snacking.
    49
    50   Q.   As opposed to what? 
    51        A.  As opposed to eating --- 
    52 
    53   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You have said it already.
    54        A.  --  other foods, in the context of balanced meals.
    55        From a nutritional point of view, though it does not
    56        specifically mention nutritionally balanced meals, this
    57        wording, as I say, I feel is very loose, and I would
    58        recommend that it be tightened up.
    59
    60   MR. MORRIS:  But the spirit is that -- I mean, I can put a