TOP STORY: Apples unhealthy says food regulator

LINDY ANDREWS
Hawke's Bay fruitgrowers say draft regulations that could see apples and other fruit thrown out of the healthy food pyramid are ridiculous.
For years apples have been promoted as high fibre, low fat and packed with health-giving vitamins - the ideal snack and perfect for people on weight management regimes.
But apples and other fruits stand to be blacklisted within weeks if proposed regulations set by transtasman food regulator Food Standards Australia New Zealand go ahead.
Under draft regulations, apples, pears and stonefruit would be disqualified from healthy food groups because their natural sugar content exceeds 16g per serving.
The draft standard aims to help people make healthy food choices, but nutritionists say labelling apples and other fruit as too high in sugar could harm healthy-eating campaigns like 5+ a Day, which encourages people to eat five or more fruit and vegetables a day.
Under the new regulations, fruit sellers will not be able to claim that apples, pears and stonefruit are healthy or help with weight management.
The proposed regulations didn't cut the mustard with Eskdale orchardist Lou Videan, who sells a lot of apples, mainly to tourists.
"People have always said an apple a day is healthy; the sugar won't make any difference".
Mr Apple New Zealand director Andrew van Workum was rendered almost speechless.
"The answer to that is that shortly they'll be saying water is unsafe to drink," he retorted.
"The apple business began with Adam ... the benefit of eating apples is so obvious and so well proven, we should be encouraging people to be eating more."
Brothers David and Philip Mardon of Pernell Fruitworld, Hastings, described the move as "a load of rubbish".
"I would guess it's so far out it wouldn't work," Philip Mardon said.
Produce growers say the horticulture industry, worth an annual $4.7 billion to the New Zealand economy, could suffer.
Ron Becroft, president of United Fresh, which runs the 5+ a Day campaign, said New Zealanders had "terrible eating patterns".
"Fruit and vegetables are not one of the enemy," he said. "I think the messages that Grandma told us that fruit and vegetables are fundamentally good for you are still there. And if you look at the body of evidence around the world there's absolutely no question that a diet high in fruit and vegetables is good for you."
He had hoped the draft would give produce growers and marketers more scope to make health claims.
"Politicians and legislators - when the only tool they've got is a hammer, everything looks like a nail."