The product: a 250ml organic juice product marketed to mothers as suitable for infants from 6 months old as "a safe and convenient way to feed infants on the go" because of its "ready-to-go" teat attached. The product was engineered and manufactured in Australia by a local Melbourne group; juice source is from New Zealand.
The product, specifically, the organic juice product with teat, is no longer available for purchase on Australian supermarket shelves. There remains a Bebi bottled water with teat available in supermarkets.
To me, this product represents our lax approach to public health. It is easier for us to "help" and "educate" once the problem is there, rather than saying NO to food industry.....just in case opposition to a product might accidentally affect our economy for a moment. If a product like Bebi can enter the market uncontested, then what hope have we got as dietitians, the experts in "what to eat to achieve health", in making any difference at the other end?
It is so difficult to compete with the hard-core marketing of these products.....how can we truly convince people not to buy these "fun", "healthy", "convenient" products. There is not much fun or cute about buying an apple.
.....................................................
23-11-12
via email to Claire Hewat, Julie Dundon, DAA National Office,
DIPSIG
23 November 2013
Dear DAA,
I will write here as my individual opinion because I have not
canvassed the membership on this issue, but in the interests of healthy debate,
strengthening our profession, and fairness and transparency I must
write this now.
The reason I made sure DAA was included in all
correspondence on the list-serves about the Bebi product is because it was an
opportunity for DAA to demonstrate they are serious about their vision, and
achieving two of our four strategic directives 1) influence government policy
and 2) influence the food supply. I have copied and pasted the mission and the
two strategic plan points at the end of this email.
In a way, Bebi was an 'easy target' because of the 'teat'
and the clear marketing strategy to infants. In the correspondence on the
list serves, I did point out my struggle to find much wrong with the product in
terms of 'food law' and even 'misleading and deceptive'. Even my
complaint to MAIF took some time to find a specific contravening issue.
The response via [Name removed for privacy: "a DAA staff member"] sent to DIPSIG yesterday, outlining the process by
DAA-FRAC to 'redress breaches of The Code'...is 'due process' not advocacy.
In fact, DAA already has its own evidence-based reference
point, a set of guidelines against which to advocate to achieve our mission,
vision, and a great deal of the items in the 'strategic plan'. This
reference is the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
Based on my work in 'achieving effectiveness in dietetic practice for obesity,
a main barrier for dietitians to achieve effectiveness, is their client being
able to navigate through a supermarket, past the two-for-one tim tams and over
to the F&V area (and then the weighing-up of the relative risk with
perishables vs packaged foods). 'Influencing the food supply and
influencing policy' sets up the supportive infrastructure for dietitians to
make a serious dent in Australia's obesity statistics. Bebi characterises
everything we are up against in the food supply - accessible, cute, start them
early, convenience, making parents think there is a need etc.
From my work so far, to create a supportive framework for
dietetic effectiveness, my position statement is this:
The aim of this position is to influence the food supply
toward a 'healthy normal'.
Melanie Voevodin will publicly oppose any product that enters the market that
does not meet the Australian Dietary Guidelines. Products
targeting and/or marketed to children (i.e <15 years of age) will be particularly scrutinised.
Melanie says NO to products entering the market
that are not on the healthy eating pyramid. Melanie supports innovation
and marketing to close the gap
on making the healthy choices easy choices and this means fruit and vegetables
relative to packaged and processed foods.
Melanie recognises the economic fragility,
the global market, and
Australia's position in this. However, where one market fails, another
takes it's place; Melanie's position seeks to move the free market away from
a reliance on packaging and processing, to a reliance on local and
sustainable.
As a health professional, Melanie has a responsibility to
speak up and oppose the importing, distribution,
development and sale of any product that contradicts
the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
Imagine if we replaced the 'Melanie's' with 'DAA'. A
statement like this really would, i believe, make it clear that DAA is serious
about achieving its vision, mission, and strategic plan. But then DAA does have
a position on 'position statements'....
Excerpt from the DAA March e- newsletter
Excerpt from the DAA March e- newsletter
Position statements: Everyone wants
them but . . .
“From time to time members question
why DAA no longer produces
position statements, or members
ask for a statement to be written on
a particular topic. DAA used to have
position statements on a number of
subjects but the Board took a clear
decision some years ago that this
was not a route the organisation
would continue to take.”
As an active and concerned member of DAA,
I commit to supporting DAA to:
a) Decide on our position about positions
b) Be clear about what advocacy means
c) Fill the 'Strategic plan' with clear operational
objectives
d) Add to the strategic plan how we will know the objectives
are achieved
e) Be clear in the annual report on income from industry
vs membership vs other funds
Whatever the decisions are for this, for us (DAA) to
clearly communicate decisions to all members. And the vision and mission
adjusted accordingly. Remembering, everything DAA does in the public arena
reflects on all dietitians. I am sure all members will do what they can
for DAA to truly achieve our current mission - and are looking to DAA to look
beyond 'due process', and toward the global concepts of GOOD governance, and
the attributes of a civil society organisation.
DAAs Vision and the two strategic directives referred to
earlier in this email are copied and pasted below my signature block
Kind regards
Melanie Voevodin
.............................................................
DAAs Vision and the two points in the strategic plan
Vision
DAA is the leader in nutrition for better food, better health and wellbeing for all.
And in the strategic plan 2011-2014
1. Influence Government Policy
- Contribute to build the recognition of DAA as the peak nutrition body
- Identify key policy agendas for advocacy efforts
- Develop and implement DAA advocacy action plan
- Increase member capacity to influence government policy
- Communicate DAA's positions to members
- Appoint and resource high profile advocates
- Develop tools for members to resource and encourage "grass roots" advocacy
- Develop and leverage alliances with other organisations
- Proactively engage media in relation to action plan objectives
2. Influence the food supply
- Build member expertise in the area of food regulation
- Provide regular and informed input on food regulation decisions
- Advocate to ensure nutrition holds an appropriate level of importance in the overall food security debate
- Advocate to ensure nutrition holds an appropriate level of importance in the overall food supply and sustainability debate
- Action the food and nutrition policy statement developed in collaboration with the PHAA
- Advocate for, and support the development of, improved nutrition and nutrition standards in all settings
- Work with partners and other stakeholders to achieve a safe, secure healthy and sustainable food supply
- Increase opportunities for members to work within the food supply system
Other blogs by me
[Series] Posts in response (prn)
Pete Evans
Dietitians
[Series] Trust in professional integrity (March 2014)
March is [unofficially] professional integrity month
The story of dietitians for professional integrity
What is professional integrity?
[Series] Are dietitians effective? (July 2013)
Heads up GPs, we can save $billions together
Pete Evans
Dietitians
[Series] Trust in professional integrity (March 2014)
March is [unofficially] professional integrity month
The story of dietitians for professional integrity
What is professional integrity?
[Series] Are dietitians effective? (July 2013)
Heads up GPs, we can save $billions together
[Other stuff]
