Victoria takes the junk food crown
PARENTS are calling for a cap on fast-food outlets after revelations Victoria has become the nation's biggest junk food state, with a disturbing one takeaway shop for every 505 residents.
Figures released by business analyst IBISWorld show Victoria has the most fast-food outlets per capita, well ahead of the national average of 575, and we spend $3.8 billion a year on takeaways.
Family group the Parents Jury said fast-food outlet numbers should be restricted.
"Enough is enough," manager Karen Sims said. "It's reached saturation point. It is time the Federal Government stepped in and capped them."
Ms Sims said a crackdown was needed to curb the nation's weight plight which affected adults and children: "The biggest fast-food giants make sure they are highly visible, market to children and sell junk."
Health audits say one in four Australian children are overweight or obese.
Hamburgers made up 30 per cent of takeaways, then pizza (20 per cent) and fish and chips (4 per cent) of all takeaways, IBIS found. But driven by demand for healthier food, fat-reduced toppings and grills were offered, while juice, sushi and salad outlets had opened. Australians' consumption of hamburgers had declined, while Thai, Japanese, Indian and Chinese cuisines had gained popularity, it said.
Campaigners want big chains to display kilojoules on fast-food menu boards.
Obesity Policy Coalition spokeswoman Jane Martin said fatty, sugary, fast food dominated despite a shift towards healthier options. "The chains heavily market to young people who have their own pocket money and are very canny about price," Ms Martin said.
She said some supposedly healthy takeaway foods had lots of fat, and contents should be exposed. She also criticised deals encouraging people to buy bigger meals.
Dietitian Melanie McGrice said takeaway shop numbers were a worry, as they could be contributing to obesity epidemic and illnesses such as heart disease.
"With takeaways you don't know which types of oils have been used in preparing them, and often there's not enough fruit or vegetables in the meal," Ms McGrice said. "The biggest motivating factor for buying takeaway food is convenience, but there are ... other options, such as preparing foods in bulk and freezing them."
- with Karen Collier
