Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 173: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her response and the implications for the Irish food industry of the recently published Scientific Study on Children's Diet, which was presented at a Relay organised conference in Dublin on 19 May 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26446/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Scientific Study on Children's Diet was co-funded by my Department and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and was the first study to benchmark dietary intakes of a nationally representative sample of Irish children. The work was carried out by researchers in Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork who surveyed 600 children aged between five and 12 years from primary schools throughout Ireland during 2003 and 2004 and collected information on diet, physical activity and body measurements on each child as well as lifestyle information for both the children and their parents.

With regard to diet, the study identified that intake of fruit and vegetables was low and on average well below international recommendations. Fat and salt intakes were higher than recommended and food eaten outside the home accounted for less than 10% of total calorie consumption. Overweight and obesity in five to 12 year old schoolchildren is relatively high and increasing. I consider it important that the data collected in the study should be further analysed and cross-referenced with other available information to assist in evidence-based policy formulation and implementation and to provide the public and the food industry with useful information. Discussions on how this might best be done have taken place with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the FIRM funding committee under the aegis of my Department and I expect to have more detailed proposals later this year.

The findings of the Scientific Study on Children's Diet will assist the food industry to tailor product development and promotion to lifestyle patterns and trends based on the scientific data gathered. They will also be of valuable assistance in formulating new products to meet emerging nutritional demands. In addition, a Bord Bia programme to promote consumption of fruit and vegetables in up to 150 primary schools over the next three years will be launched this week.