supermarket-trolley-istock.jpg Several supermarkets are banding together with the Ministry of Health to tackle childhood obesity. Photo by iStockFour of New Zealand's supermarket brands have joined forces to combat growing childhood obesity in New Zealand. Last month the Ministry of Health launched its obesity action plan aimed at preventing and managing obesity in children under 18, which included a focus on the food industry and moves to change food labelling, marketing and advertising. There has been growing awareness around the issue of childhood obesity with the United Nations releasing a report in January which stated that the world was facing a global epidemic in childhood obesity with the number of overweight children under the age of five predicted to jump to as high as 70 million over the next decade. Both brands would review and update targets annually and Harford said that the door was open for other food retailers to join the Retail NZ pledge.

Source: Otago Daily Times October 16, 2016 22:30 UTC