Last November FOE launched a petition calling for a ban on the sale of junk food in school, a ban on advertising junk food when kids are watching TV, and for a select committee inquiry into obesity.
One of these is already underway – the Parliamentary Health Select Committee is holding an Inquiry into Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in New Zealand, and is calling for public submissions by 26 April 2006.
FOE’s petition closes on 1 May 2006.
Jackie Blue – Maiden Speech to Parliament
MP Jackie Blue said in her maiden speech to Parliament in November 2005:
Madam Speaker, the organisation Fight the Obesity Epidemic, or FOE, is one of the organisations leading the way. They have just launched a petition to be presented to Parliament later this year. I predict that public support and the will for change will be massive. The experts on that team are warning that social marketing and education alone will not change behaviour – there also needs to be a change in the regulatory framework.
Source: National Party website, 23 Nov 2005