PROPOSED BAN ON LAMB FLAPS

For those readers from overseas, we have to explain that lamb flaps

is meat from Australia and New Zealand that has a high level of fat

content and that has become the staple diet in Papua New Guinea.

In recent years, lamb flaps has been banned in Fiji as the result of

concern that fat contributes to heart disease. The issue has been

raised in Papua New Guinea in 2011 by member of parliament

Jamie Maxtone-Graham who wants lamb flaps banned.

This has raised a minor furore among lamb flap sellers and lovers

of fried lamb flaps who question that this meat is unhealthy. The

sellers claim that they rely on roadside lamb flap selling for their

family living and school fees.

Dr Vinit technical advisor of  lifestyle diseases in the Department

of Health has come out in support of a lamb flaps ban.

Vinit: Bad lifestyle shortens life - The National 15 April 2011

“Lifestyle diseases are shortening the national life span up to 50 years

when people should live up to 100 years. People eating lamb flaps

was only part of a growing problem. Man does not live on lamb flaps

alone”.

“It is a cheap excuse if we say that lamb flaps is the only meat source

in PNG when we are truly blessed with lots of protein-based food”.

“He advised the Government to regulate fat content or protein content

of all meat products and only allow retailers to sell healthy lean meat for

consumption. He urged everyone to support the Government”.

Vinit said that obesity was classified as the precursor disease condition

in the international classification of diseases and leads to cardio-vascular

diseases, diabetes type 2, hypertension, strokes and breast and cervical

cancer in women.

“If nothing is done to change our current unhealthy lifestyle, then 40%

overweight can change to obesity and this is very serious.”

He said that he supported the call for banning tobacco smoke, alcohol

and drugs which contribute to increasing lifestyle diseases and cancers.

Unhealthy diet was one aspect of the problem”.

“Seven preventable choices that shorten our lives are smoking tobacco

and marijuana, chewing betel nut, alcohol and homebrew abuse and high

salty, sugary and fatty diet”.

He said that the parliamentary committee on health and family welfare

was going out to gauge the public view.

****************

AIDS Holistics has criticized MP Jamie Maxtone-Graham Chairman of

the Parliamentary AIDS Committee for his total avoidance of any public

statement on HIV/AIDS.

But he has made up for that with his focus through the media on nutrition

and his initiative on the issue of lamb flaps. His work will support the

Positive Living message on nutrition.

These companies would not dare to sell this rubbish meat to Australian

or New Zealand citizens. They would be out of business by the end of

the week. But it’s OK to sell it to the blackfellas. My daughters love
lamb flaps. So I give it to them about once a fortnight.