A call to declare a “food poverty emergency” in County Durham has been rejected in favour of a plan to encourage healthy eating and exercise.
Competing proposals sparked debate over food poverty and accusations of condescension and “gaslighting” in a Durham County Council meeting.
Councillor Luke Holmes first put forward a motion on Wednesday (July 20), saying “unhealthy weight” had serious physical and mental health implications for children and families.
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The Conservative member said: “I ask the council to note that eating disorders and excess weight are public health concerns for our county.
“And I ask members to agree to a whole system approach to promote healthy weight by supporting people to reduce excess calorie intake and increase physical activity.”
He suggested work with communities, families, educators and employers to tackle food poverty and promote and increase access to healthy food and exercise, using Public Health England’s “Eatwell Guide”.
Cllr Ken Robson seconded this, saying: “To combat the public health concern we need to encourage healthy eating.”
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Cllr Kevin Shaw, however, said the motion was “condescending”, citing high local child poverty figures which he put down to austerity.
The Labour councillor said: “Advising my residents in Dawdon ward to follow the Eatwell Guide to improve health and reduce obesity is gaslighting.
“People now cannot afford to access food to make up a healthy diet, and in many cases cannot afford to cook it even if they could.
“Follow the Eatwell diet? This motion might as well say to the people of County Durham, in the region of highest deprivation in the country, ‘follow the yellow-brick road’.”
Cllr Maura McKeon said: “I don’t think there’s anyone in County Durham who doesn’t know that chips are bad for you. I think the message is out on that.
“I don’t think people are going to change their behaviour because of a guide alone.
“I’m quite sick of the discussions of bodies like mine. I think we need to be looking at mental health and poverty and other factors.”
Cllr Lucy Hovvels put forward an amendment, to “support people who live in food poverty eat a more healthy diet”, suggesting the council “calls a food poverty emergency for County Durham” and lobbies government for more funding for communities and healthy food.
She said: “The five-a-day is not a choice as fruit and veg is not always an option due to the cost or supply in some of our rural communities.
“Lack of money and circumstances in people’s lives removes the choice about what some of our residents can eat. I see that within my own community.
“Our residents are battling with the cost of living, which is only going to get worse.”
Cllr Richard Bell, Conservative group leader and deputy council leader, said: “There is a lot more to healthy eating than food poverty.”
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He and Cllr Holmes argued that Cllr Hovvels’ alternative proposal restricted support to people in food poverty and excluded people who were not.
He added: “Quite a few of us, myself included, could do with a little bit more actual healthy eating and instruction on healthy eating and lifestyle choices.”
Cllr Holmes said: “I think that everybody in our council deserves help and support, not just those that are in food poverty.”
Councillors voted 56-50 against Cllr Hovvels’ amendment, then 58-46 for Cllr Holmes’ original motion, carrying his proposals.
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