CAP

Wednesday 14 March 2007

From Starvation to Obesity

The Common Agricultural Policy was introduced after the experience of the war to stop starvation in Europe . It has more than succeeded, we are now too fat and fed on the wrong things, says the Faculty of Public Health.

In a bid to fire up the enthusiasm of MEPs the Faculty has released a new report, A CAP on Health? , which calls for public health to be put at the heart of reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and reduce health inequalities.

In the run up to CAP reform discussions in 2008, the Faculty will be campaigning to put public health before profit in any decision-making. The report, A CAP on Health?, shows that CAP not only damages Europe's health, but also increases health inequalities, by subsidising foods which are a major factor in such public health crises as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Decisions made on the CAP therefore have profound implications for the quality of nutrition in Europe and the health of its people.

Faculty of Public Health President, Professor Rod Griffiths says: “It could be argued that CAP had dominated public health for the last 40 years through its subsidies to food production. Almost half of the EU budget is spent on CAP. This money needs to be better spent - reducing the subsidies to beef and dairy product ion , and increasing the availability of fruit and vegetables. If we get it wrong we condemn many people to diabetes, heart disease, cancers and early death.”

Principal author of the report, Dr Christopher Birt says: “The food people eat makes a big difference to their health, but food choice is largely determined by price and availability – particularly for people on low incomes. CAP is a major influence on price. It has subsidised massively the production of fat-rich foods such as dairy and meat products making them cheaper, whilst allowing the systematic destruction of large quantities of fruit and vegetables.”

ENDS

 

 

Note to editors

  1. For further information contact Lindsey Stewart, Policy and Communications, Faculty of Public Health T: 07886 960741 or 020 7935 3115.

  2. The Faculty of Public Health has produced a report on the public health impact on CAP. A CAP on Health? The Impact of the EU Common Agricultural Policy on Public Health is available from the Faculty's website.

  3. The Faculty is an authoritative public health body which aims to advance the health of the population. It sets and maintains professional and educational standards, and advocates on key public health issues, including providing practical information and guidance for public health professionals. For further information visit the Faculty's website: www.fph.org.uk

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