Communication Agencies Back Food Industry Accord

September 2 2004

Communication Agencies Back Food Industry Accord

The Communication Agencies Association (CAANZ) has become a foundation signatory of the New Zealand Food Industry Accord launched by the Minister of Health in Wellington today.

The Accord is the food industry’s response to the challenge of obesity. It calls on signatories to do all that is possible to encourage all sectors of the industry to create commercially successful products and services that will make a positive contribution to the health of New Zealanders.

The Accord is understood to be a world first, bringing together all the participants in the production and sale of food – producers, distributors, retailers, marketers, advertisers and media.

The Accord commits signatories to recognising that obesity is a major risk to public health and to working collaboratively to tackle it. Other signatories include the Association of New Zealand Advertisers (ANZA), the Food and Grocery Council (FGC) and the Television Broadcasters Council (TBC).

“CAANZ has been working closely with the key players in the food industry to create the Accord and we are 100% behind the initiative. It is industry’s way of saying we recognise the issue as a major challenge for New Zealand and we recognise we all have a part to play in finding solutions,” said CAANZ President, Andrew Stone.

“That responsibility is shared with the entire community of New Zealand but inactive lifestyles, poor nutrition and obesity are creating greater focus on the need for the community to share in addressing the health of the nation. It is not an easy task, but communications agencies will be playing their part in finding commercial solutions for their clients that contribute to the health of New Zealanders,” said Mr Stone.

The Accord was launched by the Minister of Health, Annette King, at a ceremony at the Beehive today and follows the Ministry’s launch of its Healthy Eating Healthy Action strategy in June of this year.

“We can’t beat the obesity issue if we don’t work together. That’s why this Accord is such a big leap forward. Its strength lies in the Government and the broader food industry teaming up to tackle obesity head-on,” said Mr Stone.

CAANZ is an industry association representing the interests of more than 60 advertising and communications agencies.

(For the full text of the New Zealand Food Industry Accord visit our website – www.caanz.co.nz)

ENDS

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