KFC sponsors the Big Bash League.GETTY IMAGES
The New Zealand Government is looking to ask "Big Food" companies to "stop sponsoring sport," according to Andrea Vance of STUFF. It is a move to "tackle soaring obesity rates, alongside calorie counts on restaurant menus." The proposals were contained in a "wish list" released under the Official Information Act. Burger King, McDonald's and KFC sponsor rugby, basketball, football and cricket. Sanitarium "runs the Weetbix Tryathlon" and Nestlé is a sponsor of junior rugby through its Milo drink. Netball is sponsored by mall chain Muffin Break. Since March, the government has partnered with 16 food industry retailers and manufacturers to "establish a task force on the weight problem." But the task force "was kept in the dark over the proposals" contained in a briefing to NZ Health Minister David Clark and NZ Food Safety Minister Damien O'Connor. Former All Black Marc Ellis said that "adult sport needed the money," but he wants to "keep fast food chains away from junior sport sponsorship." The briefing suggested there is "potential for Government to discourage sponsorship of sporting teams or events by brands associated with less healthy products." This was "to be done either in agreement" with national sporting organizations or "voluntarily by the food and drink industry." Clark said that the document was "an early briefing which canvassed a wide range potential interventions." He emphasized the proposals were voluntary and were not "under active development at this point" (STUFF, 9/16).
