European Snack Association claim causes UK Health Minister to threaten with regulation

The Government is threatening to regulate the food industry to stop firms promoting unhealthy eating habits among the nation's seven million schoolchildren, the Health minister, Ben Bradshaw, warned yesterday.

He described as "completely unacceptable"a claim promoted in a pack sent to schools by the European Snack Association – which is sponsored by Pringles, KP and Walkers – that a bag of crisps was healthier than an apple. However, speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, he said that at present it was up to schools whether or not they used the pack.