Campaign For Safer Foods

Venue
St Barnabas Church Hall, corner Fendalton Rd/Tui St
Thursday, 8 May, 8.00 p.m. – 9.30 p.m.

MEET THE CANDIDATES PUBLIC MEETING
– ALL WELCOME –

Speakers
Sue Kedgley,MP
and
Dr. Kennedy Graham
Ilam Green Party Candidate

Topic
“Why We Need A Food Revolution” - Sue Kedgley,MP

EXTRACT:

"The industrialised western diet, consisting of highly processed foods low in nutrients but high in fat, salt, sugar and additives, and often containing residues of pesticides and veterinary medicines, is making us all ill."

"Poor diet is the leading cause of preventable death in New Zealand accounting for an estimated 30 percent of preventable deaths. Amongst children it is fuelling an epidemic of obesity, type II diabetes and dental decay, and experts warn that unless we radically change the food our children eat, they will be the first generation of children to die before their parents."


"In the US it is estimated that, already, one quarter of children suffer from high cholesterol and other early indicators of heart disease, and that one in every three children born in 2000 will suffer from diabetes. These trends are being observed in most other western nations."

"Society has become so disconnected from its food supply that children now can recognise food corporates' logos like McDonald’s, but many cannot identify vegetables such as celery or asparagus - thanks to the manner in which the food industry controls children's eating habits through massive PR campaigns that aim to establish brand loyalty not healthy eating."

"Industrial food production is unsustainable, relying on dwindling fossil fuel supplies to power its machinery, and irrigation and transport systems. It is contributing to climate change, environmental pollution and degradation, and the suffering of millions of animals. Meanwhile ships carrying identical food product pass each other on the high seas, needlessly shuffling food about in the name of free trade but costing us the earth."

"There is thus an urgent need for a food revolution, to replace the industrialised, factory model of highly processed foods with a sustainable system of organic production, which produces safe and nutritious food that fuels our health, not our illness, food that is properly labelled for consumers’ benefit and ethically traded, with a priority of consuming locally and in-season."

Why We Need A Food Revolution
Sue Kedgley,MP