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Original poster

To be astonished at the stupidity of the Smart Swap campaign?

234 replies

Farrowandbawlbauls · 02/01/2014 15:21

Yes, we all need to eat better and move about more but I've just seen the advert for swapping sugar loaded fizzy drinks for sugar free ones.

Am I alone in thinking it's one of the most ill thought of things they've come up with yet?

The sweetners in sugar free drinks are dangerous. The sugar free stuff usually advertised is most of the time, worse than the full fat stuff.

Link

I can see why they are doing this as it is a huge problem in this country, but I don't thing they've thought this through at all.

OP posts:
Original poster
Farrowandbawlbauls · 04/01/2014 19:41

Pepsi and Mars too but that's all been said nearer the begining of the thread before it got ridiculous.

OP posts:
Rooners · 04/01/2014 19:51

Thanks guys, sorry, I didn't want to start a pity party but I am literally kind of lost in it all.

Will take a look at that blog you've linked to - thankyou! My diet is rubbish anyway so it can only really be improved. Smile

partyhead · 04/01/2014 20:37

Sorry, I didn't RTFT.

fairisleknitter · 05/01/2014 11:24

party it's a good point to repeat : this campaign is compromised by the sponsors who have products to push.

Original poster
Farrowandbawlbauls · 05/01/2014 11:28

Nothing to be sorry about, by the time you've read the thread you would have lost track of what you were going to say anyway.

Fairisle is right though, we need to remember who's actually behind this "research" and "suggestions".

OP posts:
Original poster
Farrowandbawlbauls · 05/01/2014 11:29

Sinister. That's the word I'm looking for. The whole thing is sinister, especially when you realise who's behind it all.

OP posts:
Tw1nkle · 05/01/2014 11:34

I ended up having to have a brain scan because of the effects that Sweetener were having on me - believe me...it IS poison!!!

Just Eat Real Food - it really is that simple.

I also follow the Harcombe Diet - and LOVE IT!

happytalk13 · 05/01/2014 11:39

When the USA decided to re-vamp their food pyramid they had a board of people working on it from various nutritional backgrounds. They were very clear on what they thought about sugar consumption. Just before going to campaign members of the sugar industry had words in relevant ears. The result was a food pyramid that was very ambiguous about sugar consumption.

Original poster
Farrowandbawlbauls · 05/01/2014 13:10

God that's depressing.

OP posts:
Solo · 05/01/2014 13:21

Tw1nkle I agree! 100%

happytalk13 · 05/01/2014 14:46

Indeed, Farrow. I feel that it is entirely wrong to allow a Government initiative on public health be sponsored by companies that will have a vested interest in the information being handed out to the masses. But, that's how things go.

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 10/01/2014 13:36

.

coco44 · 13/01/2014 21:05

what do people imagine is the danger of aspartame?
It is one of the most thoroughly tested and studied food additives ever and its safety has been shown to be clear cut

Solo · 13/01/2014 23:51

Your evidence of this coco?

coco44 · 13/01/2014 23:53

the FSA and the American equivalent FDA

Solo · 14/01/2014 00:16

Don't believe everything you read.

So many big companies are in bed with the Governments of the world and money talks loudly...I certainly won't change my stance on it, will always make a point of not buying foodstuffs containing it and I will not be allowing my children to consume it.

CouthyMow · 14/01/2014 01:33

So glad I'm not the only one who has to grit their teeth and explain yo their DC's that these adverts are a rather blunt instrument when it comes to teaching about Healthy eating. My DC's know about the neurotoxicity effects of artificial sweeteners, and we work on the adage that "A LITTLE bit of what you fancy is good for you" (in moderation).

We use butter in our cooking (or Stork when cooking for DS3). We use semi-skimmed milk for most things.

I'd far rather they had one sugary drink every now and again, brushed their teeth well, and ran around a bit to burn it off than fill themselves full of sweeteners that affect the central nervous system, especially DS1, as he has epilepsy like me.

I'm actually VERY intolerant to sweeteners, particularly aspartame and saccharine, the tiniest mouthful of food containing them, or sip of drink with them in, and I get a blinding headache and am vomiting, and I come up in hives!

EndoplasmicReticulum · 14/01/2014 07:19

Recent news story on aspartame.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25323216

European Food Safety Authority. Trouble is, you can give any number of links showing this but the "oh no the big business are paying off the regulatory bodies" argument just gets trotted out again.

I would be interested to see some studies that show the danger, rather than just anecdotal evidence.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 14/01/2014 07:19

sorry clicky link

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25323216

flatpackhamster · 14/01/2014 13:23

EndoplasmicReticulum

Recent news story on aspartame.

^www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25323216^

European Food Safety Authority. Trouble is, you can give any number of links showing this but the "oh no the big business are paying off the regulatory bodies" argument just gets trotted out again.

I would be interested to see some studies that show the danger, rather than just anecdotal evidence.

I agree with you that it isn't dangerous. The people who claim it is dangerous can be found on websites all over the place, also claiming that a UFO landed in their back yard or that the government secretly sprays chemtrails or that we're all microchipped or some old flannel like that.

Apparently governments - who we all know are crap and incompetent and incapable of doing anything without messing it up - are also simultaneously amazingly clever at hiding things that only a handful of internet warriors can find out about.

Saying that aspartame isn't good for you isn't the same as saying it's dangerous.

coco44 · 14/01/2014 21:23

I would have thought the sugar companies had more clout than such as Nutrisweet.

HoratiaDrelincourt · 14/01/2014 22:10

Coca Cola is far bigger than Tate & Lyle

JohnnyBarthes · 14/01/2014 23:13

Sugar is expensive in comparison to artificial sweeteners, that's all there is to it.

It wouldn't surprise me remotely if the outfits producing sugar and sweeteners aren't owned by the same corporations.

StealthPolarBear · 18/01/2014 07:59

Don't know if anyone has mentioned this but the ad I've just heard on the radio suggests swapping sugary drinks for sugar-free alternatives such as milk or water.
Now I know you'll argue milk is not sugar free, but it does not have added sugar and is a million times better than coke.

HoratiaDrelincourt · 18/01/2014 08:10

Well that's obviously better but many people will hear "sugar free" and go to the fizzy pop aisle.