08/11/2010

The president of the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN), Roberto Sabrido presented on November 5th in Toledo the draft Law on Food Safety and Nutrition, developed by the Government of Spain, supported by the Government of Castilla-La Mancha, as noted by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Fernando Lamata, as it will be an effective tool to combat obesity, among other issues, and coincides with one of the priorities of the regional government. It will also mean the continuous improvement of control mechanisms in food safety.

According to the president of the AESAN, the indicators of Castilla-La Mancha are higher than the national average in terms of food security, because by having between 4 and 5 percent of the population of Spain, in this same region are working 10 percent of the public health inspectors of the country. He also noted that, while in the whole country 80 percent of food establishments are inspected, in the region this percentage reaches 100 percent. Each year in the autonomous region, with 33,000 establishments, some 140,000 inspections are carried out.

"Consequently, Europe is very secure, Spain is very secure and Castilla-La Mancha is a community with a great performance and also very safe in all matters related to food safety, being one of the autonomous communities with the best parameters in this section of mayor importance to public health, "said Sabrido.

Epidemic

Sabrido explained that with this law, for the first time, everything related to the field of nutrition is addressed by a legislative rule of this scale. "We are facing a vast epidemic that is obesity and that affects in particular children under 18. As a result, 30 percent of the Spanish population between 2 and 7 years are overweight or have excess of weight. "

The law intends to operate in schools, with new standards in the field of school feeding and turning these centers in areas free of all advertising, except those considered appropriate by regional health authorities. It also applies to the field of advertising media, with special emphasis on media targeting children under 15 years, with certain restrictions and prohibitions on its content.

To the president, all initiatives to promote a healthy eating are very positive, and he pointed out that the government of Castilla-La Mancha is working in this area with the social partners, such as health professionals and teachers, because education in public health means to be healthy and live better.

Healthy habits

In this respect, the Government of Castilla-La Mancha is firmly committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and exercise as tools, on the one hand, to reduce preventable diseases and improve the overall quality of life of the population, and on the other hand, to promote alternative leisure activities related to physical activity and sports.

As a consequence, the Naos Strategy, launched in 2005 in Castilla-La Mancha, is aimed at promoting nutrition education in the family, school and community, encouraging regular physical exercise, especially in school, spreading the benefits of a healthy eating; awareness among health professionals in preventing obesity and promoting coordination between administrations and social agents in this area.

Thus, among the measures to improve nutrition of children and reduce obesity, the minister of Health and Social Welfare has highlighted the food guide published together with the Ministry of Education and Science for school catering, the programme for healthy breakfasts in public schools with Agricultural Food Cooperatives of Castilla-La Mancha (Ucaman) or the support for healthy lifestyle projects developed by local associations that are focused on boys and girls in the region.

The speech-conference of Roberto Sabrido was attended by the region's health managers, representatives of hotel and tourism associations, cooperatives of agricultural companies, business organizations as well as official schools of veterinary surgeons, nursery and representatives of the Federation of Municipalities and Provinces and of the Departments of Education, Science, Agriculture and Environment.