Maccas deal is last thing we need
What an outrage! ! At a time of rising rates of childood obesity and diabetes, the NSW Tourism Minister has launched a deal with Macca's that gives kids a free entry card to tourist attractions.
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Send us your comments and we'll pass them onto The Hon. Matthew Brown, Minister for Tourism
Or you can send comments direct to him at:
The Hon. Matt Brown, Level 34 Governor Macquarie Tower, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000
Email: minister@brown.minister.nsw.gov.au
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NSW Minister does Macca's deal
Posted: 04 March 2008
From Daily Telegraph, 4th March 2008
Health experts have slammed the NSW Government over a promotion it is running in conjunction with fast-food chain McDonald's, saying it encourages children to eat fatty food.
Experts say politicians should instead be encouraging children to eat fruit and vegetables.
Under the NSW For Kids campaign announced by Tourism Minister Matt Brown, children will get a free entry card to tourist attractions when they buy a Happy Meal.
More than 1.2 million cards are expected to be handed out during the promotion, which runs from this Friday until April 3.
Sydney Wildlife World and Dolphin Watch Cruises at Jervis Bay are among more than 80 tourist attractions taking part in the campaign.
With another interest rate rise expected as early as this week, the scheme is bound to be a hit with parents who are tightening their purse strings.
Dr Tony Okely, director of Child Obesity Research Centre at Wollongong University, was appalled the Government was endorsing such a scheme.
"It's a sad way of promoting to children without directly doing it - they're coming in at a different angle but children don't see that," he said.
"It's the last thing we really need at the moment given how hard it is for parents to make healthy choices."
Nutrition Society of Australia president Professor Andrew Sinclair said the Government should be encouraging children to eat healthier.
"Kids aren't eating enough fruit and vegetables but they're eating plenty of McDonald's and we don't want them eating any more," he said.
"I don't think the State Government should be supporting a move like that."
Obesity dietician at Westmead Children's Hospital Susie Burrell said more thought should have gone into the message the promotion was giving.
"It's a bit disappointing when there are so many initiatives to reduce childhood obesity and they're encouraging the consumption of fast food," she said.
Mr Brown said McDonald's had introduced healthy options, including a new fruit bag, apple juice and pasta.
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