NannyBunny?

[Hitch]

NEWS RELEASE 1 April 2012
Easter eggs could be sold in plain packaging from next year.

Public health campaigners want all seasonal confectionary to be sold in uniform beige packs which research has shown is the colour that is least appealing to children and the obese.

Proposals being considered by the Government would remove all branding and colourful packaging in an attempt to reduce indulgence levels.

Under the proposals, to be discussed in Parliament, no brand logos will be permitted on any Easter egg although companies will be able to print their name and the brand in small, standardised font on the box.

The packaging will also feature a stark health warning that will cover 75% of the front of the pack and 90% of the back. Graphic images will feature double chins and belly fat.

Public health groups have welcomed the proposals. "If this legislation stops one young person from picking up a shiny, glitzy Easter egg and prevents them becoming addicted to chocolate then it will have been worthwhile," said Candy Barr, chief executive officer for Action on Eating and Health.

“We would also like Easter eggs to be sold behind closed doors in retail outlets. At present they are on open display which is far too tempting for customers.â€

Campaigners say that a recent survey based on interviews with 13 children aged 8-15 showed that underage consumption has increased by 650% over the last five years.

“Binge eating of chocolate has been a problem for years,†said Barr. “People, children especially, are particularly vulnerably to temptation at Easter. If we are to tackle the obesity epidemic we have to do something now.â€

Hands Off Our Packs, which is campaigning against the plain packaging of tobacco, said the proposal comes as no surprise.

Spokesman Angela Harbutt said, “Public health campaigners are always looking for the next logical step. Tobacco and alcohol are being threatened with plain packaging so it was inevitable that confectionary would be targeted as well.

“The belief that government can impose a brand ban on every ‘unhealthy’ product is getting ridiculous. This time next year every item in the shop could be behind closed doors or in plain, uniform packaging.â€

gotcha

 

[tim-from-pa]

Yes, it does sound like a nannybunny. And as for obesity, I've been pointing to the junk they add to foods and other processing (in the name of health) for a long time now, and then they turn around and act as if these things are better for you while demonizing foods that our grandparents lived off of just because it has "too much saturated fats" or whatever else that man, in his infinite wisdom, thinks is some transgression of God. But that's another conspiracy theory, I guess.

In the meantime, while I don't advocate eating lots of chocolate eggs and candy (as they are the epitome of processed foods), it's not right for the government to mandate anything about them, either. If they get too out of hand, then they will label,as they are already doing, natural foods in the same category. I'm not convinced they really know what they are talking about regarding nutrition. That's the scary part.

 

[jasoncran]

listening to democrats whine makes me unhealthy. solution: jason will exercise his second ammendment right by discharging his side arm until the democrat no longer whines and in the process will find himself happy.

just kidding.

 

[Aardverk]

Nice one Hitch. I look forward to next April;)

 

[tim-from-pa]

Must admit, I did not google this one and missed the little "gotcha". But, this year's April fool's joke could be next year's reality. It's so very sad that the story Hitch gave to us actually sounds like typical healthoholic advice they try to mandate on everyone and cram down our throats these days. As we already know, similar stuff is already happening as it was so crazy that it actually sounded true (e.g. mandated cigarette package pictures). So, maybe go a little easy on conspiracy theorists because Hitch's story would have been an obvious hoax just a few short decades ago. Now, everything they say and think sounds so ridiculous these days. A person in a time machine from the past would not even recognize the USA today any longer nor understand the so-called medical logic being peddled on everyone.

 

[jasoncran]

i agree.im an a seventy's child and i dont recognise america that i knew as a kid anymore. its like a time vaccuum when i watch old tv shows.