§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent efforts have been made to educate the public about promoting(a) a balanced diet and(b) a healthy lifestyle. [81061]
§ Ms BlearsI have been asked to reply.
234WThe Food Standards Agency is engaged in a wide range of activities to promote the uptake of a healthy, balanced diet. Details of these are available from the agency's nutrition action plan on the agency's website (www.food.gov.uk). This encompasses work in schools, information and advice to consumers, including through the agency website and funding research and surveys on barriers to uptake of a balanced diet and how these can be overcome.
The Department's initiatives, as highlighted in the "NHS Plan" (2000), address both access and information. Actions on the latter include generating awareness on breastfeeding, a Five a Day programme to promote fruit and vegetable consumption, support for healthy weight maintenance and initiatives in schools and elsewhere to promote a balanced diet and physical activity.