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7 comments

David Penberthy’s health sandwich is laden with a generous helping of cynicism and a pinch of exaggeration.

Trans fats are lurking everywhere.

By calling for a reduction of the harmful fats in our food, Bob Carr is not seeking to ban fast food outlets. Instead, he is highlighting how easy it would be to make our takeaway foods substantially healthier.

Australians love to eat out - nearly one in three of us do so almost every day, which adds up to a massive 3.8 billion meals eaten out every year.

But how much do we really know about the food we buy at the local Thai restaurant or fish and chip shop? We certainly don’t know what kind of oil is being used.

Some, but by no means all oils are high in trans and saturated fats, which are strongly linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Palm oil for example is commonly used and contains 55% saturated fat. Canola oil on the other hand contains just 8% saturated fat. I know which oil I’d rather have my fish fried in and so does Bob Carr.

Councils have the ability to improve the heart health of their communities by encouraging local food outlets to use healthier oils. Urging local governments to take that step is not about targeting a certain class of people, but instead about focusing on where the greatest number of meals are sold in order to have the biggest impact.

The Heart Foundation’s decision to extend Tick into meals eaten out of home was a world first. It has been the incentive for removing almost 20% of the trans fats in takeaways - a massive 460 tonnes - in a little over 12 months.

But this is just the beginning of what can be achieved so the Heart Foundation will continue to push for healthier foods. And we will applaud Bob Carr for trying to help.

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427Australia, you have nothing to fear but fear itself

375There's no one Thomson won't burn to save his skin

313Thomson didn't answer the question everyone is asking

304Animal experiments won't cure me from cancer

262Who murdered the Arts degree?

246A big day for Thomson, who thus far is guilty of nothing...

231South Australia. It's the middle bottom bit.

231Craig Thomson speaks. Meanwhile, in Australia...

7 comments

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- paul says:
  
  06:00am | 29/10/09
  
  I suspect even in the face of the evidence that Mr Penburthy will continue to support fast food outlets ignoring public health and responsibility for their products. And he has twisted the story - in fact, the food companies are the bourgeois or elite because they can dictate to Rudd, the ACCC and the media, what dodgy practices they want to.get away with. Lets see if Mr Penburthy has the ticker to fight trans fats for ordinary Australians.
  
  Reply
- Dan says:
  
  06:33am | 29/10/09
  
  If trans fats are completely unhealthy and don’t alter the taste in any way, I don’t see any reason why they shouldn’t be banned or why food outlets can’t be encouraged to use healthier oils. However it does depend on whether they impact the taste. If they do, then it should come down to personal choice. But if they don’t affect taste at all, and are simply unhealthy, thus raising healthcare costs, then IMO it ceases being merely a matter of personal choice.
  
  Reply
- paul says:
  
  07:42am | 29/10/09
  
  Dan why don’t you read up on the subject instead of flip flopping, around on this forum? Cancer is cancer mate, which IS your own choice, except where others have to pay for your ignorance. The bans on trans fats globally are based on some damaging science. Plus, look at how food companies manipulated the federal gov on the issue.
  
  Reply
- urbancynic says:
  
  09:44am | 29/10/09
  
  The really interesting aspect of how the Heart Foundation operates is the government funding/advocacy nexus. It is a good thing that they are contributing to people make personal decisions about better eating habits. However, it is worth remembering that much of their work is directly or indirectly government funded - through grants or tax deductible donations. And the Heart Foundation’s Tick is largely a fundraiser for the organisation. (Almost) anyone can pay the Heart Foundation to use their “tick’. So the real question is: Is the Heart Foundation simply an advocate for government policies under consideration (e.g. making workplaces repsonsible for employee nutrition)? Or is it fundrarising to enhance its empire and influence? Or is it telling businesses how they should operate?
  
  Reply
- KW says:
  
  02:35pm | 29/10/09
  
  They banned asbestos. Trans fats should go too - or at least be “declared” publicly. Their use has declined dramatically in processed supermarket foods since they had to be shown on labelling.
  
  Palm oil? Well, I know whenever I have KFC I get palm oil, and I know that it makes me feel pretty ill afterwards, even if it does taste good at the time!
  
  I’d prefer if I could walk up to a counter and see what oil they use.
  
  Got to watch that “heart tick” though, from what I have read it’s criteria is a good indicator of fat, but it doesn’t care anywhere near as much about sugar content (natural really, considering that suger doesn’t give you heart disease.)
  
  Reply
- Dan says:
  
  02:41am | 30/10/09
  
  So Paul, because I don’t have a black & white view, I’m flip flopping? Yeh right. Here’s a shock for you; not every issue is black & white, and neither is every issue involving cancer. Cigarettes cause cancer, but should they banned? Some say yes, other might say no. It’s complicated, and I have an open mind. Better that than to treat it as a black % white issue where you are morally and intellectually superior to everyone else, who might, gosh, have a different opinion to you!
  
  Reply
- Turkey says:
  
  11:03am | 26/02/10
  
  Some splash in the grey while others swim in the black and white. Either way individual health is a community responsibility so let us make an infomed decision and provide the healthy alternative. It’s been a while since I have ordered grilled fish and received dirty looks!
  
  Reply