Food company seeks to tackle obesity

Wednesday, 2 July 2003 12:00 AM

Kraft, America's biggest food manufacturer, has announced that it is going to reduce its portion sizes and introduce better nutritional information on its packaging to help tackle increasing levels of obesity.

The company which makes such brands as Dairylea, Toblerone, Bird's and Oreos says that it is worried about its customers' health; however there are also concern over lawsuits.

A lawsuit was filed earlier this year trying to ban Kraft's Oreo biscuits on the grounds that they contain an artery-clogging ingredient that is claimed to 'reduce human life' and MacDonald's is currently facing a law suit from obese children over its hamburgers.

The company, owned by tobacco giant Philip Morris, says that the changes will help 'strengthen the alignment of its products and marketing practices with societal needs' and will also include the elimination of all in-school marketing.

Betsy D. Holden, the Co-CEO of Kraft Foods called the rise in obesity a 'complex public health challenge of global proportions'. 'Kraft is committed to product choices and marketing practices that will help encourage healthy lifestyles and make it easier to eat and live better,' she explained.

The changes in portion size will affect its single serving foods such as packets of Oreo cookies. The company have not commented on any price changes that will accompany these reductions.

Kraft is currently in the process of forming an 'expert advisory council' which will include experts in obesity, nutrition, physical activity, public health, human behaviour, nutrient fortification and lifestyle education and intervention programs.

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