The Australian State of New South Wales’ health department announced on Thursday that it would ban sugary soft drinks in all hospitals and care facilities by the end of 2017. This ban is imposed in order to combat the growing problem of obesity.“By establishing this model we hope it shows how a workable strategy can be successfully implemented across any organisation to assist healthier choices in any staffing environment,’’ Chant said.
According to the NSW Heart Foundation, a health advocacy and charity group, “one in two adults and more than one in five children in NSW are overweight or obese.
“This in turn dramatically heightens the risk of a wide range of chronic health conditions including “type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke and some cancers.
“Governments at every level have a role to play in making the healthy choice easy,’’ NSW Heart Foundation’s chief executive Kerry Doyle said.
“People visiting hospitals and patients should all have access to healthy foods and not have the temptation of sugar laden drinks confronting them at every corner.’’
But not everyone is impressed with the move: the Australian Beverages Council’s chief executive officer Geoff Parker told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the policy was a “nanny state approach.’’
Adding that, consumer choice is being “imposed upon them by NSW Health,” Parker said.
Source:Punch
