Industry Group Welcomes Govt's Mission-on Campaign

NEWS RELEASE 21 SEPTEMBER 2006

Food Industry Group Welcomes Government’s Mission-on Campaign.

The New Zealand Food Industry Group (FIG) welcomes the Government’s package of measures to create healthier lifestyles for all New Zealanders, its Chairman, Jeremy Irwin said today.

“The food industry, advertisers and media endorse the Government’s approach to put resources into schools and targeted programmes in the community.”

“We are pleased the government has re-affirmed its commitment to working with industry and advertisers to reduce the level of obesity in New Zealand. We also appreciate the Government’s acceptance that co-operation with industry, rather than legislation, is the best way to reduce obesity levels, ” Mr Irwin said.

Mr Irwin said the measures announced today will help to do just that.

“The food industry welcomes the Government’s aim of spending $76 million over four years which will make a real difference and especially the programme’s acknowledgment that lack of activity is responsible for a large part of New Zealand’s obesity problem.”

“Industry will keep working with the Government to assist in developing further initiatives. The Government led classification system for food, currently under discussion with industry, will play a key role when introduced,” Mr Irwin concluded.

ENDS

The Food Industry Group (FIG) is made up of the Association of New Zealand Advertisers, the Food and Grocery Council, the Communication Agencies Association of New Zealand and media groups from television, radio, newspapers, and magazines.

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