Government Must Listen to Dental Expert on Sugary Drink s

Government Needs to Listen to Dental Expert on Sugary Drink Consequences

One of this country’s foremost dental experts has spelt out the consequences of New Zealand’s high levels of sugar consumption for children, and the Government needs to listen,” says Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS).

Dr Rob Beaglehole highlighted the impact of sugary drinks in particular on toddlers and children in TVNZ’s Sunday current affairs programme last night, including the removal of rotting teeth from babies still in nappies and the high consumption of sugar among teenagers and others:http://tvnz.co.nz/sunday-news/bittersweet-video-6250138

Mr Powell congratulated Dr Beaglehole for speaking out.

“This is an important health issue for New Zealanders and he’s to be commended for articulating the problems so clearly. It takes courage these days to speak out on issues like sugary drinks, given the attacks on public health specialists that have taken place over the past year by vested interests, and Dr Beaglehole is to be commended for telling us about the reality he sees in the course of his work.”

Mr Powell says the Government needs to engage with Dr Beaglehole and other dental and public health medical specialists to work out how to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks, including looking at the evidence for increasing prices.

ENDS

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