The Dutch Food Industry Federation (FNLI) signed the Obesity Covenant on 27 January 2005. Other signatories who recognise the need to fight obesity and overweight include ministries, representatives of the food industry and civil-society organisations.
The covenant highlights the individual’s responsibility for striking the right balance between food and exercise. The FNLI endorses this approach and like the other signatories will make an active contribution to tackling obesity.
We in the food industry have a serious responsibility to help solve the problem of obesity. At the FNLI, we believe that we cannot offer consumers freedom of choice without accepting our own responsibility. Otherwise, we can expect a raft of new laws and rules in the years ahead.
Many of the factors that influence obesity are due to changes in our lifestyles. How much time do children spend behind the computer and in front of the television instead of playing outside? Does anyone still cycle to work? And what do people know about the food they eat? Everyone concerned must join in and help reverse the trend. Furthermore, the debate has to be brought back to realistic proportions rather than being based solely on emotions. Fat taxes and traffic-light labelling seem to be more about gesture politics than lasting solutions.
The FNLI’s activity plan will be based on the three action points set out in its policy plan “Reducing Overweight”:
Firstly, the food industry must inform consumers as effectively, objectively and clearly as possible and ensure that they have freedom of choice. Secondly, products should be developed so that they can help reduce obesity and overweight. Thirdly, producers and consumers must learn from each other. But above all, the product must taste good and we have to keep enjoying our food.
The covenant’s objective is to produce a joint action plan within six months. The FNLI has set up an expert group with representatives from the industry and individual companies to work on the action plan. The group deliberately includes members from a variety of disciplines: marketing, nutrition and public affairs. It is working hard to develop activities that have more than just symbolic value. In view of the lack of knowledge about preventing obesity, we are facing a daunting challenge and will have to learn as we go along.
Elize Klitsie,
FNLI, Nutrition and Health Manager <<< back
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