HomeMy WebLinkAboutOttawa Public Health considers limits on junk foods — even Beavertails - Metro Ottawa - 04/04/2017 - Metro Ottawa - 04/04/20174/5/2017 Ottawa Public Health considers limits on junk foods —even Beavertails
News Ottawa
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In 2013 a survey of local students in Grades 7 to 12 found 15 per cent of students identified as being
overweight and eight per cent as obese.
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By: III°°Illmallliey II '.IiiW,nalli Nie Metro, Published on Wed Apr 00 2017
Ottawa Public Health is asking residents to weigh in on different options to protect kids from junk food.
Among the options: banning certain advertisers and certain vendors from city property.
"This is part of a broader strategy to help Ottawa residents live healthier lives," said public health
spokesperson Gillian Connelly. "Education alone is not enough."
Right now there are no formal proposals, but OPH's board has directed the agency's staff to begin a three-
month public consultation.
During Monday's OPH meeting, board members and delegates discussed several ideas, including limiting
advertising and food sales on city property. Cadbury chocolate's advertising on the Rink of Dreams and
slushies at city pools were cited by speakers as potential targets.
Such a policy could also put an end to french fries on the beach and rinkside Beavertails outside city hall.
http://www. m etronews.ca/newslottawa/2017/04/04/publ i c- heal tl� ban -j unk-foods-and-I i m i t-adverti s i ng. pri nt. htm I 1/2
4/5/2017
Ottawa Public Health considers limits on junk foods —even Beavertails
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Board chair Shad Qadri said that, while Monday's delegates were passionate, any decision would depend
entirely on public feedback.
"All we've done is approved Ottawa Public Health to consult, to see what the consensus is in the
community," he said.
"There are people saying 'Let's cut it out now,' as it was with smoking, you need to take careful steps and
listen to the public," he said. "Smoking was relatively easy because it's mostly a harmful product, there's no
benefit, where in this case food does have benefits."
New rules about products deemed too high in salt, fat, sugar or calories could also force the city to take a
more critical look at sponsored events like Red Bull Crashed Ice.
James Shepherd, who travelled from Toronto to speak to councillors about the death of his 15 -year-old
son, said he was "deeply saddened" by the decision to host the sporting event.
Shepherd said his son Brian died in 2008 from a sudden cardiac arrest during a paintball tournament after
drinking an energy drink.
Coun. David Chernushenko admitted that he was troubled by the event's marketing at the time but didn't
say anything. He said the city needs to strike a balance between being a "nanny" and encouraging kids to
make healthy choices.
"How far do we go?" he said. "It comes down to direct marketing of highly unhealthy and dubious products,
particularly to children."
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