The four large Dutch cities and Ede are advocating for legal options to ban the suppliers of fast foods and other unhealthy foods in their fight against obesity. They feel they currently have too little power to act against the unhealthy options bombarding their citizens, RTL Nieuws reports. Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Ede therefore sent a letter to Sate Secretary Paul Blokhuis of Public Health, asking for more resources to halt the increase in fast food restaurants. They want an amendment to the Environments Act, to broaden it so that the food environment is part of the definition of a safe and healthy physical environment and can therefore be regulated.
"It is a politically complicated discussion," De Ruijter said. "It concerns the question of how far individual freedom goes in relation to the public task. You can also turn the question around: to what extent is obesity still an individual responsibility? Research shows that the food supply in your area influences your food choice." |