Why ice-cream vans face total meltdown(hint commie nanny staters)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2170199,00.html ^ | 5 8 06 | Rajeev Syal and David Sanderson

[freepatriot32]

Those familiar jingles could be a thing of the past if a health campaign succeeds

FOR 60 years the tinny jingle of Greensleeves that announced the arrival of the ice-cream van has been an indelible memory of childhood, but that sound may soon be removed from suburban streets. Health lobbyists have decided that ice-creams are too much of a danger to children’s health.

MPs and health officials are planning a series of measures across the country that are already forcing Mr Whippy and his helpers into meltdown.

Under an amendment to the Education and Inspection Bill to be put forward this week, local authorities will be given new powers to stop ice-cream vans from operating near school gates. The move comes as operators claim that they are already being forced out of business by an over-zealous health lobby.

Local authorities have in recent weeks banned ice-cream vans from using pay-and-display parking spaces and set up “ice-cream-free”exclusion zones around busy shopping streets. Newham council, in east London, informed vendors last month that it would fine van owners up to £80 if they used pay-and-display bays. Greenwich council, in southeast London, has banned the vans from its streets altogether, while in Scotland, West Dunbartonshire council has introduced an exclusion zone around schools for vans.

Mark Gossage, the director of Ice Cream Alliance that represented 20,000 van owners in the 1960s and now has 700 members, said that many of his members can no longer make a living. “Many schools have already stopped arrangements for vans to sell to pupils,” he said. “They are wiping us out.”

There are about 5,000 ice-cream vans in Britain. In times gone by they would have parked at the side of most roads; but times have changed. The amendment would grant local authorities the power to ban ice-cream vans from parking near schools.

One dietitian told The Times that a ban on ice-cream vans near schools would be a draconian policy that may drive children to buy even less healthy foods at nearby shops.

Catherine Collins, the chief dietitian at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, south London, said: “This is the kind of blanket ban that gives the health lobby a bad name. A healthy diet can factor in a sugary treat such as an ice-cream. It is the frequency of that treat that is an issue. Most choices from an ice-cream van would provide fewer calories and fat compared to a free choice from a newsagent.”

Horse-drawn vans selling flavoured ices were first seen on cobbled streets in the 19th century. Motorised vans followed in the 1950s, selling hard, scooped or soft ice-cream.

By the 1980s the business had become so lucrative that gangs fought over the right to sell to certain streets. In 1984 a row between Glasgow-based gangs led to the murder of six members of the Doyle family, who had run the Marchetti ice-cream company. The sector has since declined because of the availability of ice-creams from shops and garages. The few vendors left said last week they would be out of business if the amendment was passed.

John Barrowclough, whose Iced Treats van stops outside schools around Wolverhampton, said he had been forced to sell one of his two vans. because of a clampdown.

“We sell a lot of ice-creams near schools,” he said. “Of course no one wants to see fat kids, but most children have an ice-cream once a week, not every day.”

Sefer Huseyin, whose family have run Five Star Catering ice-cream vans in Camberwell, southeast London, since the 1960s, said that his vans had been banned from schools. “Telling vendors they are not allowed near schools is the wrong message,” he said. “They have been going there for years and their livelihood is being taken away from them.”

However, the amendment is supported by some health campaigners. Chris Waterman, the executive director of the Confederation of Education and Children’s Services Managers, said ice-cream vans should be restricted. “There are millions going into healthy food in schools, yet kids are rushing to spend their money on food from mobile vans,” he said.

“The ice-cream van industry may be saying it is in meltdown but for the sake of our children’s health and safety we should keep the icons at Bournemouth and Blackpool but stop them driving around schools.”

TREAT OR HEALTH HAZARD?

A large single ice cream cone contains about 139 calories and 6g of fat. A chocolate Flake adds about 100 calories and another 6g of fat

Many ice-creams and iced lollies in wrappings contain between 40-100 calories. A Mars Bar contains nearly 300 calories

A serving of rich vanilla ice cream will typically contain 90ml milk, 90ml double cream or whipping cream, a vanilla pod, an egg yolk and 25g of caster sugar

Some soft ice cream sold on the streets can contain saturated vegetable fat, sugar, milk powder, artificial flavourings and additives including E407 and E122.

Toppings are usually a mix of glucose syrup, additives, synthetic flavourings, artificial sweeteners and preservatives

Depending on whom you believe, “99s” were first made by Cadbury’s in the 1930s as a tribute to the King of Italy’s bodyguard, traditionally composed of 99 troops; or a tribute by Italian café owners to Il Ragazzi del 99, a band of soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Piave River in the First World War; or named after the address of the Edinburgh-based Arcari ice-cream dynasty at 99 Portobello High Street

The two most popular ice cream van jingles today are O Solo Mio by Eduardo Di Capua — popularly known as the Cornetto theme — and Greensleeves

[cricket]

Ahh, yes. . more interference from the people who would be kings if they could - and will. . . if we continue to invite, appoint or vote Liberals to power.

What will it take for more to realize that the 'dream' these people share is documented as history's nightmare and ours as well.

For some, maybe the vanishing 'ice cream man' might be an awakening to the possibilities here. . .

OTOH, they might just think it is Bush's fault. .or worse, they might be grateful.

[barker]

One of my "guilty pleasures" is a daily bowl of ice cream. Not a huge one, but a bowl in any case.

For whatever reason, unknown to me, I eat ice cream out of a coffee cup. It tastes better that way.

[polymuser]

Not nearly as dangerous as spending 8 hours in a public school.

Good one!

[Straight Vermonter]

Ice Cream Man

Warning: Not family friendly.

[Hatteras]

WAAAAAAAAIT!!!!

It's summer, it's early evening. You just finished supper and headed back outside to meet with the gang to get in a few more innings when you hear the distant clanging of bells. You scramble back home to grab a quarter or two from Dad and rush back out to catch the Good Humor man as he's passing your house.

Remember the anticipation? Remember the lights and the glow around the truck on a dark summer evening? Remember when the guy would open the freezer door and all that cold air would rush into your face? Remember the money changer on the Good Humor guy's belt? Remember the neighborhood camaraderie as you sat with your friends on the curb and ate your chocolate eclair as the Good Humor man clanged off into the distance? I do....

[tonycavanagh]

re :So, do you really think the Confederation of Education and Children’s Services Managers is providing good, wholesome food to the kiddies with their government-granted monopoly?

No idea what is happening in America, but in Britain when some schools took part in the experiment and replaced all there options with more healthy options they found there was a marked improvement in discipline, attention and grades, which cant be a bad thing, well at least I think so.

[bondjamesbond]

You miss my point. Of course good nutrition leads to better results. My point is that the Confederation of Education and Children’s Services Managers is very unlikely to provide good nutrition after they have been granted a government monopoly.

Typically they will provide the lowest cost food that meets the technical specification, and the result is not appetizing.

[BraveMan]

Pssst! Hey kid! Here ya go. Don't tell the teacher where you got this . . .

[betsyross1776]

the ice cream man is dangerous, but the guy in Iran accoding to Matt Lauer could be our friend. What religion is Lauer, I think he is Jewish, trust me the guy in Iran has no time for friendly matty.But ice cream is bad, remember that Ice cream bad Iran good.

[traviskicks]

"Health lobbyists have decided that ice-creams are too much of a danger to children’s health."





Libertarian ping! To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.

[traviskicks]

"Can we now have all those health nazis banned for being a danger to the public health?"
====

lol, if we went by statistics, they are the greatest health threat of all, but of course, our 'public health' policies are based only on emotion so this isn't a danger. :)

[jackieaxe]

Health lobbyists have decided that ice-creams are too much of a danger to children’s health.

If I were writing this story I would have rephrased this line to: "A bunch of interlopers, hungering for government funds so they can tell other people to not let their kids eat ice cream." These people are Nazis. They won't be happy until we are all in front of the TV exercising daily like Winston Smith in 1984 (A book everyone should read). I get no joy hearing Butthole Bill Clinton negotiated with the Soda companies to eliminate sugar sodas in schools. I can make up my own mind. I can think for myself. These "healthy lobbyists" are looking for government handouts so they can lobby the government to take more freedom away from all of us.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

As long as the kids are running around outdoors and playing, some ice cream shouldn't be a problem.

[Gabz]

While we are on the subject of bad for health these nanny state do gooders that are so intent on banning everything but bean turds and tofu are ticking me off so much im getting an ulcer and ulcers can kill people if left untreated. Can we now have all those health nazis banned for being a danger to the public health?

EXCELLENT idea!!!!!!!!

Nanny State Ping........

[M203M4]

We have these sorts of labels in Canada for cigarettes. Blackened lungs, etc too. Lots of variety. With socialized healthcare popping up in the US now, you will no doubt see these things too.

How long before we see pictures of fat people on ice cream? When it happens here, I'll post pictures of the containers so you will know what to expect.

[Da Bilge Troll]

But anything that helps us with the Children I am all for.

Incidentally my two children are a lot more behave since we switched from cola to smoothies as summer time drinks.

When did the government tell you to switch your kids from cola to smoothies? Since you obviously do not think parents are the ones who should make such decisions, I'm curious.

[mugs99]

“ice-cream-free”exclusion zones

ROFL!!!
They slid down the slippry slope from drug free zones to ice cream free zones. Talk about mission creep!
.

[CSM]

Hate to say it, but it looks like the prediction is accurate.

[Gabz]

But, it's for the chilllllllllldreun............./dripping sarcasm

[jackieaxe]

“ice-cream-free”exclusion zones ROFL!!! They slid down the slippry slope from drug free zones to ice cream free zones. Talk about mission creep!

Maybe the fines could be doubled for selling ice cream in a school zone.