Football stars promoting fatty products, says survey

Premiership footballers including Alan Shearer and David Beckham are compromising education campaigns by accepting promotion deals from fatty, salty and sugary food brands, a survey claimed today.

Premier League clubs and the Football Association also came in for criticism from the Food Commission poll which found that the amount of salt contained in processed food is higher than ever – despite food industry claims that it has been working to bring levels down.

Beckham, who has promoted Pepsi, and Shearer, who has in the past appeared in adverts for McDonalds, are among a number of players who have signed up for the advertising deals criticised.

Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen, football pundit and former England hero Gary Lineker and Paul Gascoigne also come in for criticism.

The report found that in some foods the salt levels have doubled since 1978, and other foods aimed at children would take a six-year-old over the recommended maximum salt intake with just one serving.

The survey, published in Food Magazine, compared levels of salt in white bread, crisps, baked beans and tinned tomato soup 25 years ago with the levels in the same products today.

It found that the salt level in crisps had almost doubled since 1978, from an average of 540mg per 100g to 1050mg per 100g.

Levels in canned baked beans had risen from 480mg to 490mg per 100g, while levels in white bread and canned tomato soup showed “very little improvement”, the Commission said.

In the second part of the survey, the Commission looked at popular children’s foods.

Results showed that many – including Dairylea Lunchables, Burger King kids’ meals and Teletubbies tinned pasta – contain more salt in a single serving than the recommended daily intake for a six-year-old.

Eating high levels of salt is linked to high blood pressure, which is the main cause of strokes and a major factor in heart attacks.

Food Commission researcher Kath Dalmeny said the food industry had to take greater responsibility for public health and reduce salt in processed food.

In a ``Football Food League Table'', the Food Commission warned nine Premier League clubs that they are in danger of relegation for promoting junky foods and drinks to children.

Teams criticised included Manchester United for its high-profile link-up with Pepsi, Tottenham Hotspur for working with McDonald’s, and Sunderland for accepting sponsorship from Coca Cola and McDonald’s.

The sport’s co-ordinating body, the Football Association, was singled out as one of the worst offenders for circulating nutrition advice to schools and football academies written and sponsored by Mars and promoting Snickers chocolate bars, which are high in fat and sugar.

“None of the food brands promoted by Premier League clubs and the Football Association should be eaten by footballers in the run-up to a game,” said Annie Seeley, nutritionist and campaigns officer for the Food Commission.

“With rising levels of obesity and diabetes in children, top footballers could be excellent role models for children, demonstrating the link between good diet and good health.

“But instead we see adverts showing top players from Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers drinking Pepsi, the Premier League logo on Walkers Crisps, and the Football Association encouraging children to eat chocolate bars and wear McDonald’s branded football kit.”

The only Premier League team found to be offering unbiased health advice to children, without compromise from junk food sponsorship, was West Ham.

The club offers an education programme sponsored by SportsMatch and RailTrack, involving children in physical exercise and giving nutrition advice under the title “An Active Life + A Healthy Balanced Diet = Healthy Living”.