Posted by kathryn in Fats & oils and Junk Food

I read this week that one Krispy Kreme doughnut contains 20% of the recommended daily intake of kilojoules. Let me say that again, one little doughnut from Krispy Kreme, is the equivalent of 20%, ie one-fifth, of all of the energy you need to eat in one day. One original glazed Krispy Kreme contains 12g of fat and 835kJ, which is a lot, but not quite as extreme as the chocolate iced cream filled doughnut, which has 21g of fat …

Read more 04 August, 2006

Posted by kathryn in Labels & advertising, Fruit and Junk Food

Fruit Roll-ups are flat strips of sticky, violently coloured, chewy stuff. They’re sweet, but don’t really look, smell or taste like fruit. Roll-ups are heavily marketed to both kids and parents as a tasty snack, made of real fruit and therefore a good alternative to packing a piece of fruit in lunch-boxes. However, as I’ve said before, you really can’t believe everything food manufacturers tell you and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has just rapped Uncle Toby’s on …

Read more 22 September, 2006

Posted by kathryn in Junk Food

Research from the University of Sydney shows that toddlers are getting up to a quarter of their daily energy intake from junk foods: cordials, biscuits, lollies, chips and so on. Of the 429 children in the three day study (all aged between 6 and 24 months), only one child had no junk food. * 41 percent of kids had cordial every day * more than half had hot chips every 2 – 3 days * a third ate chocolate …

Read more 16 November, 2006

Posted by kathryn in Junk Food

I was talking to a client this week and we were discussing the best fast food options. I live in Sydney’s inner city. Our nearest corner store sells good quality fruit and veg. Plus, they’re open until 9pm every night. There are also plenty of Thai or Vietnamese restaurants close by, many of whom home deliver. Even when I’m home late from work, or can’t be bothered to cook, it’s still easy to organise a healthy meal. However, in talking …

Read more 01 December, 2006

Posted by kathryn in Labels & advertising and Junk Food

The American Academy of Pediatrics has joined the call for a ban on junk food advertising to children. From today’s herald: bq. Children request more high-calorie, low-nutrient foods after seeing them on TV, said Donald Shifrin, the chairman of the committee that produced the new policy. One study found exposure to TV ads actually increased children’s overall energy intake, heightening the risk of them becoming overweight or obese. “Healthy foods are advertised less than 3 per cent of the time,” …

Read more 07 December, 2006

Posted by kathryn in Snacks, Fats & oils and Junk Food

As if to illustrate my point exactly, slap bang in the middle of the back page of today’s Herald , is this headline “Fair Dunkin’! Guilt-Free Doughnuts”: bq. Is this the future of indulgence? Our picture shows a box of doughnuts from the Doughnut Plant, on New York’s Lower East Side. They look evil, but are trans-fat-free and all natural. They may well be trans fat free, but THEY’RE STILL DOUGHNUTS . Which means they’re still packed full of sugar …

Read more 17 January, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Junk Food

I blogged yesterday about the announcement that nine McDonald’s meals have been given Heart Foundation Ticks. A follow up story in today’s Herald gives reactions from the AMA and Westmead Children’s Hospital. The AMA are concerned the: bq. respected red tick, which indicates to consumers a healthy, low kilojoule, well-balanced meal, had been “hamburgled” by McDonald’s, and could create a “halo” effect around a small number of more healthy meals on an extensive menu high in fats, salt and sugar. …

Read more 07 February, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Junk Food

This, from last week’s Age, on the Heart Foundation’s Tick accreditation of nine McDonald’s meals. Pros and cons of the deal, what’s involved, as well as a good outline of how the whole Tick programme works.

Read more 13 February, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Myths and Junk Food

Sometimes when I see the advert for McDonald’s food, particularly that photo of the Big Mac, I find myself thinking “you know, that almost looks healthy”. Don’t worry, this insanity only lasts a moment, but the whole burger looks fresh and home-made. The bread seems to have substance and body, there’s a noticeable volume of vegetable and the meat looks juicy. So, why is it, when you buy the Big Mac it actually looks like this? It’s all …

Read more 10 May, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Labels & advertising and Junk Food

The calls to ban junk food advertising to kids has been gaining momentum recently. With parents and medical bodies increasingly concerned about childhood obesity and health, preventing the marketing of foods high in fat, sugar and sodium to children is seen as one important step. Concern over the possibility of a British-style ban and wanting to prevent advertising from becoming an issue in this year’s federal election, food manufacturers have started to ditch adverts aimed at children. Kraft, Heinz, Nestle …

Read more 12 June, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Junk Food

Big news from the fast food industry today, nine McDonald’s meals have been accredited with a Heart Foundation tick. What can be going on? The Heart Foundation’s Tick is a guide to helping people make healthier food choices. It’s mostly found on processed and take-away foods, offering an independent assessment on which are the healthier options in that food category. h3. Tick programme guidelines Over the last year Macca’s have been working with the Heart Foundation to improve the nutritional …

Read more 06 February, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Fats & oils and Junk Food

I’ve blogged about trans fats before – why they’re bad for us, what foods contain them and how much of a problem they are in Australia. Most Australians don’t eat anywhere near as many trans fats as the US and Canada, however, one of our big sources is fast food. This week the Assistant Health Minister, Chris Pyne, has met with the fast food industry to discuss the fat content of their foods. Hungry Jack’s, Krispy Kreme, KFC and Pizza …

Read more 14 March, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Ethics & Sustainablity and Junk Food

Burger King, the second largest fast food chain, have announced plans to start sourcing pork, chickens and eggs from farms where the animals are not reared in cages and crates. Here in Australia, Hungry Jack’s is Burger King’s local franchise. The transition will take place over an extended period of time, with their immediate goals being quite small. Starting now, 2% of their eggs will come from cage free chickens, while 10% of their pork will come from farms where …

Read more 06 April, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Labels & advertising and Junk Food

The calls for restrictions on junk foods advertising to kids are gaining momentum.

Read more 16 May, 2007

Posted by kathryn in Breakfast, Dairy, Grains, Labels & advertising and Junk Food

• Overseas action on junk food advertising to kids: tomorrow the UK parliament is having its second reading of a bill aimed at preventing the advertising on TV of foods high in fat, sugar and sodium before 9pm (when in theory young children have stopped watching and gone to bed). * According to Rudd Sound Bites, Starbucks in the US is about to make reduced fat milk the standard in a lot of its drinks. * I like this breakfast …

Read more 08 June, 2007