11. SUE MORONEY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
What progress has been made in improving the nutrition of New Zealand children?
Hon PETE HODGSON (Minister of Health) Link to this
Further progress was made just yesterday, with the Labour-led Government signing an agreement with Coca-Cola Amatil and Frucor Beverages Ltd to remove all full-sugar fizzy and energy drinks from secondary schools by 2009. This agreement takes 1.1 million litres of full-sugar beverages out of schools over the next 3 years.
How does yesterday’s agreement position New Zealand internationally on the issue of nutrition in schools?
New Zealand can once again call itself a world leader in the fight against obesity. Yesterday’s agreement is the first in the world to be negotiated directly between Government and industry leaders. I thank Coca-Cola and Frucor for their leadership, and I hope others in the food industry will be similarly inspired to act.
Sue KedgleyI seek leave to table a press release by the Obesity Action Coalition expressing its disappointment that the Minister has not followed his colleagues in France and the United Kingdom by removing all fizzy drinks, rather than allowing diet fizzy drinks to remain in vending machines in all schools in New Zealand.
Madam SPEAKERI also seek leave to table a press release by the Dental Association expressing its disappointment that Diet Coke will allow dental hygiene to be undermined in our schools.