Swann calls for Healthy Living Policy
Mr Robin Swann, the North Antrim Ulster Unionist Assembly candidate, has said a future legislative Assembly should get its Department of Health to launch a healthy living campaign to identify food and drink products which are free of harmful colourings, or have been treated with large amounts of pesticides.
Mr Swann said he was concerned there appeared to be an emphasis on getting children to eat a healthier diet, but there needed to be a greater focus on the many adults who were also worried about food and drink contents.
“We need the Department of Health to examine exactly what is being sprayed on crops. We specially need to ensure that the Department encourages the spraying of new forms of weed and pest controls which are organically safe.
“The existing Health Department, boards and trusts are certainly to be commended on their very pro-active campaigns warning of the various forms of cancer and the importance of early detection.
“However, in campaigning against the prevention of diseases, I would also call for an equally strong focus on adopting a healthy living campaign. The public has the right to know about potentially harmful substances within food and drink products.
“It’s all very well the various health bodies encouraging constituents to have a good programme of exercise, but they also need to clearly emphasise a balanced diet of food and drink products which is free of treatment by many modern pesticides.”
Mr Swann, who has served as a member of the executive committee of the Ulster Farmers’ Union and a past president of the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster, added: “I would also call on the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to grant aid those farmers in North Antrim who are engaged in the development of the production of organic foods.”