Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to reports that the national task force on obesity will call on her Department to practice positive discrimination towards local producers of fresh food and that there should be a national, regularly reviewed code of conduct for the food industry; if she has received either a final report or a draft; her views on the calls made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14244/05]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The national task force on obesity has not produced a report either in final or draft form. The World Health Organisation has described obesity as a worldwide epidemic, and estimates that up to 250 million people, about 7% of the adult population, may have an obesity problem. In Ireland figures point to a two thirds increase in the prevalence of obesity among adults. Particularly worrying is the emergence of obesity in children.

The main cause of obesity appears to be an imbalance between energy intake and physical activity. As with other public health problems, societal and lifestyle changes are contributory factors. Sedentary lifestyles, longer commuting times and time pressures are some factors in reducing the average level of physical activity. Food and eating occasions are readily available and convenience has favoured the regular consumption of fast food and prepared foods. There is, however, some demand for a range of healthy convenience options and the orientation of the Common Agricultural Policy away from production subsidies will make the agrifood sector more responsive to market changes and opportunities.

My Department, while not directly represented on the task force, made a comprehensive submission. The submission set out in detail the Department's mission and the role and responsibilities that it undertakes to lead the sustainable development of a competitive, consumer focused agrifood sector and to contribute to a vibrant rural economy and society. Key among our priorities are food safety and quality, market development and ensuring compliance with the EU and national requirements in this area. The national development plan provides for research grants to companies and for public good research into food safety, new and innovative products, advanced technologies and consumer foods.

The task force subsequently asked for comments on three draft recommendations that it was considering. One raised issues to do with transport and planning, which fall outside the remit of my Department. The second proposed that my Department support and encourage farmers to sell their healthy produce to local disadvantaged communities at affordable prices. This implies a de facto price subsidy that is not permissible under EU state aid rules.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The third draft recommendation was that my Department should support the implementation of evidence-based healthy eating interventions. I support this approach. My Department has been to the forefront in research and the public good food institutional research measure has financed a number of dietary and nutritional surveys, including the second SLÁN survey, which previewed the national task force on obesity.

I am not aware that the task force intends to recommend that my Department discriminate in favour of local producers but any such recommendation would have to be considered very carefully in light of state aid rules. Any code of conduct for the food industry that goes beyond the regulatory requirements would be a matter for the industry itself.

Bord Bia has been effective in promoting the nutritional benefits of a balanced diet and of increased consumption of horticultural products. Its market information, advice and promotion services for the food industry draw on analyses of changing consumer demand and lifestyle trends in different population segments. Bord Bia has a proposal under consideration for EU and national funding for an extended pilot "Food Dudes" programme targeted at primary school children over the next three years. The programme encourages children aged four to 11 to taste a variety of fruit and vegetables. Research has shown that this programme is very effective in encouraging children to form a lifelong habit of eating fruit and vegetables. Development of good eating habits is one means of combating obesity.

I await with great interest the outcome of the work of the task force on obesity.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. When the obesity task force was established, I was disappointed the Department of Agriculture and Food was not formally represented on it. It is a grave omission because the Department's input would have been highly significant in the promotion of healthy, good quality and home-produced foods. Will the Minister of State agree it is important for the Department to be represented on the task force rather than making submissions to it?

We tend to equate fast and convenience foods with being non-nutritious and unhealthy. It may be true to a certain extent as many of them have high fat and salt content. Why is no serious effort made to ensure fast and convenience foods can be nutritious and healthy? These two terms should not be incompatible. What are the Minister of State's views on the promotion of such foods?

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Scientists have replaced the saturated fat, salt and sugar components in convenience foods as consumption of natural healthy food ingredients continues to increase, resulting in healthier products. Under the food institutional research programme, considerable work has been undertaken at Teagasc's National Food Centre and University College Cork in developing those types of foods as referred to by Deputy Upton. Within the umbrella of the Irish Universities Nutritional Alliance, a major survey was conducted on adult eating patterns. This work is important in ensuring further research can be carried out to develop the products to which the Deputy referred. The research of food products suitable for coeliacs was a result of the ongoing work of University College Cork and Teagasc's National Food Centre.

The Department made detailed submissions to the task force, whose work is well under way. The different agencies working for the Department of Agriculture and Food, such as Bord Bia, are involved in advanced research, particularly in changes to food consumption trends. Over several years, the food dude programme was particularly successful. Although it was a British initiative, it was piloted in Ireland. We have applied to the EU for permission to establish another food dude programme. The results of the first programme were encouraging. One year after it, children's eating habits were surveyed. Those who had been on the programme had a significantly higher intake of fruit and vegetables than those who did not partake. There are merits in continuing the food dude programme. Bord Bia, working with the Department, is anxious to advance this as quickly as possible.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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The annual cost of obesity here is estimated at €370 million, a huge cost in ill health, cardiovascular diseases and so forth. Will Bord Bia increase its promotion of fruit and vegetables considering it was amalgamated with An Bord Glas last year?

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, and that work is ongoing. The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, has been anxious to make the public aware at every available forum that we will drive this agenda. The labelling issue comes into this too. We are making considerable progress on this issue.