Hon Dr David Clark gig?

 

MP for Dunedin North ., 5,
Minister of Health Associate Minister of Finance 5? flip?
Wilt? .. 
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1 1. NOV 2019

Ms Katherine Rich

c/o Carole Inkster

Food and Beverage Industry Taskforce on Addressing Factors Contributing to Obesity
By email: 

Dear Ms Rich

Food Industry Taskforce?s Report

Thank you, as the secretariat representative of the Food Industry Taskforce on Addressing
Factors Contributing to Obesity (the Taskforce), for providing us with the ?Final Report to
Ministers of Health and Food Safety? (the Report) on 20 December 2018. We apologise for
our delayed response.

We commend the Taskforce for bringing together a range of views across the food and
beverage industry, and for achieving agreement within members about the future role of
industry in contributing to reducing obesity in New Zealand.

Thank you also for your letter of 13 September 2019 providing an update on progress
towards the recommendations. We acknowledge the significant amount of work that
members of the food and beverage industry have already taken to address obesity,
particularly in the areas of reformulation of food and beverages, uptake of the Health Star
Rating labelling system, and development of company nutrition policies.

While you have been implementing the recommendations, the Government has instigated
several initiatives that align with the Report, such as Healthy Active Learning, that includes
the review and update of Health and Physical Education curriculum resources, and piloting
the school lunch programme in 30 primary and intermediate schools. Both these initiatives
are part of the Governments 2019 Wellbeing Budget. Also, in August 2019, trans-Tasman
ministers responsible for food regulation asked Food Standards Australia New Zealand
(FSANZ) to review labelling for added sugars.

We support the principles underlying the Report?s recommendations. You may be aware of
the recent release of the World Health Organization (WHO) publication ?Essential Nutrition
Actions mainstreaming nutrition through the life-course?. Several of your recommended
actions are consistent with the WHO report, and we encourage you to prioritise the following
in light of this new guidance:

 

 

WHO Essential Nutrition Actions Taskforce Recommendations
Encouraging reformulation of food Recommendations 5,6,8 to set and review
products to reduce the content of nutrient reformulation targets

saturated fats, trans?fats, free sugars
and salt/sodium

 

 

 

 

 

beehivegovtnz

 

Encouraging transnational, national
and local food services and catering
outlets to improve the nutritional
quality of their foods, ensuring the
availability and affordability of
healthy choices and to review
portion sizes and pricing

Recommendations 1,2 to develop industry
nutrition policies

Recommendations 47, 48 regarding
voluntary menu labelling and customer
information

 

including through nutrition labelling
that ensures accurate, standardised
and comprehensive information on
nutrient contents in foods.

Supporting point of sale information,

Recommendations 44, 45 to encourage
greater uptake of Health Star Ratings

Recommendation 50 regarding adoption of
the outcomes of the Australia NZ Ministerial

 

Forum on Food Regulation

 

 

 

We would also like you to review the following Taskforce recommendations in order to
strengthen them further:

 

WHO Essential Nutrition Actions Taskforce Recommendations

 

Implementing the WHO Set of
recommendations on the marketing
of foods and non-alcoholic
beverages to children

Recommendations 32,33,34,35 regarding
the marketing of food and beverages to
children.

 

 

 

 

Formalising industry-government engagement

We propose formalising engagement between industry and government to take forward this
important work to create healthier food environments and contribute to reducing obesity in
New Zealand.

We consider close engagement to be beneficial because it recognises the important role of
both parties in creating change, and signals a commitment to discuss and agree on actions
to achieve common aspirations and goals.

Through our engagement we expect to identify common goals and establish a joint work
programme. As part of this we would expect to progress actions within all the areas
suggested in your Report and . together, identify interventions appropriate for New Zealand
arising from the WHO Nutrition Actions. In particular, the Government wishes to progress
focussed action in the following areas we consider priorities for addressing obesity:

0 food marketing - limiting advertising, marketing and sponsorship related to
energy?dense, nutrient poor food and beverages
improving reformulation and labelling of food and beverages

0 creating healthier retail environments limiting product placement and price
promotions of energy-dense, nutrient poor food and beverages in supermarkets)

instigating government-led monitoring and evaluation processes.

We propose starting with a number of actions, underpinned by accurate data, robust
monitoring and evaluation. We consider that by working together our actions would be
stronger and more purposeful.

We would like to meet with you to discuss how ongoing government-industry engagement
could work. Our offices will be in contact with you to set up a meeting.

Thank you once again for the Taskforce?s important contribution to reducing obesity in New
Zealand.

Yours sincerely

 

Hon Dr David Clark Hon Damien O?Connor
Minister of Health Minister for Food Safety