Mixed views on Labour proposals to crack down on high fat foods

Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said Labour would impose maximum amounts of fat, sugar and salt that can be contained in food marketed at children such as crisps and cereals.

The policy was announced after figures revealed that in Shropshire district 23.5 per cent of children were overweight when they started school, rising to 30.3 per cent for those in the last year of school.

In Telford & Wrekin, the figure was 25.9 per cent when they start school, and 37.3 per cent for their final year.

Shropshire Council's cabinet member for children's services, Councillor Ann Hartley, said anything which encouraged a healthier diet among children should be welcomed, although she questioned whether restricting the content of food would be the best way to go about it.

"If you are going to start legislating, it smacks a bit of the nanny state," said the Conservative councillor.

"I think probably food labelling needs to be a little bit more honest, but I think it's down to the education of children, to make sure they do not acquire a sweet tooth from an early age."

She added that the council had recently launched its own 'Sugar Swaps' campaign to encourage youngsters to reduce their sugar intake.

Jo Grundy of Butterflies Day Nursery in Newport, which won an award for its commitment to healthy eating, supported the idea of tighter legislation, but says it is only part of the answer.

She said education also had an important role."We try to discourage children from eating crisps or chocolate here, apart from as the occasional treat. But it probably is a good idea to put limits on the content of food.

"Not all people will follow the advice.

"Something has to be done to tackle the obesity crisis, and it is good to get children used to healthy food at an early age."

Mr Burnham said Labour would also publish new recommended levels of physical activity, including a basic minimum that everyone should try to do.