Councils stands up to fast food restaurants near schools
27/11/2008

Children's Food Campaign

http://www.sustainweb.org/childrensfoodcampaign

An East London borough plans to ban fast food takeaways operating within 400 metres of school gates, youth centres and parks. Waltham Forest council also intends to use planning regulations to limit the proliferation of fast food outlets and restrict their opening hours.

Waltham Forest has above average levels of obese and overweight children. Its decision to protect children from fast food follows the move by Knowsley Council in September to use planning laws to limit fast food outlets and protect children's health.

Meanwhile, further north, McDonalds is in a flap over Liverpool council plans to protect kids from burger marketing.

Plans by Liverpool Council to prevent tackle childhood obesity by preventing takeaways from using toys to market their meals have provoked an indignant reaction from the fast-food giant.

McDonalds claim that the Council's proposals to withdraw promotional toys and help parents to resist pester power will "take the fun out of eating out". Somewhat hysterically, they also claim that the Council's plans would outlaw Easter egg hunts in venues throughout the city.

Cllr Paul Twigger said it was important every effort was made to tackle childhood obesity, which afflicts 13,000 youngsters in the city.

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