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Jamie's new crusade

Britons are turning to fast food because they don't know how to cook cheap food says celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

Britain is witnessing a "new poverty that we have never seen before," Oliver told parliament's health committee.

"This isn't about flash trainers or mobile phones or Sky dishes or plasma TV screens. It is a poverty of being able to nourish their family, in any class (of society)," he said.

Oliver, who is on a crusade to improve Britain's eating habits, said that in previous downturns households were more equipped to trim costs and still make food "nice and tasty."

"But this is the first time in British history where you haven't got most of the population able to cook and you can statistically see where people are spending their money now and fast food options are up," he said.

Oliver added that the problem straddled all social classes.

"It is genuinely classless. There's plenty of city boys, who used to earn a load of money, that can't nourish their kids properly even with a gold (credit card)," he said.

The chef, who almost single-handedly convinced the government to spend an extra 200 million pounds on improving dinners in Britain's schools, warned that Britain was facing an "incredibly profound" health crisis. At a news conference after the hearing, Oliver said obesity was now an "epidemic."

If we leave it, it will be like America

Last month, Oliver set out an anti-obesity "manifesto," in which he called for more cookery education and government-funded food centres in every town.

It calls for cooking skills to be taught in primary schools as well as to adults at work and in the community.

He demanded the government appoint a dedicated minister for food from within the private sector to drive policy over the next decade.

"We are not in a great place, but we are in a place from which it can be fixed," he told the committee.

Despite his healthy eating campaign, Oliver stressed he was not against fast food.

"I don't want to demonise fast food. Burgers taste good, pizzas taste good, kebabs taste good (but) what we've got is a large group of people (only) buying into those options," he said.

Jamie for Minister of Health... or is he becoming a bit too preachy?

Home cooking is best. I still maintain that home cooking is best by far. We only eat out or have take away once a month. We do not "boil" out veggies, but steam them or stir fry them. My boys have always enjoyed my cooking because I do something different each time. Add different spices and mix and match items together, eg, chicken and Ostrich. Jamie is correct in the we as a people eat far too much take away. - Craig   jamie for minister i say - YES ! jamie for minister - he is genuinely genuinely worried about the people in britain - he does not have to - but he does - this is a heartfelt worry - i think it is absolutely outstanding what he has done for the schools and spends so much of his time educating the people for their own health ! and he makes such good sense !! wow any country would be proud to have you !! GO JAMIE !!! - wendy   Jamie Exactly what I am telling everybody. Eat "worker food" and forget about all the fancy pre-cooked/deli/frozen foods.Check the people going to veggie markets/butchers against the "larnie" shoppers - Ronel   Yah for Jamie! Not at all, Jamie is absolutely right course, but ignorance is one of the most important factors. Diets & Lifestyles should be a compulsory subject in all our schools. Come to S.A. Jamie, be our Health Minister and please send us your simple wholesome recipe book! - Ingi   Home cooking - better quality at lower cost With food prices rising sharply and continuously, fast food options are becoming a luxury. And the quality of takeaways is declining rapidly. It's become a social evening, it's fun and the results are tasty pizzas of high quality at a much lower cost. - Gruntfuttock   Jamie Oliver I think Jamie is right - too many people think cooking a good meal is too much trouble and would rather get take-outs. - Celia   Good cooking Good man is Jamie, more strength to him and his views. I need quick batchelor cooking tips. Hate ready made food. Widowed and trying to stay alive without a good woman, - George   Well done Jamie ! Jamie is 100% correct. With more people like him in the world, we would live healthier and our bodies would be more resistant to sickness and disease. Well done Jamie, you really should be the UK's Health Minister. - Shane   Good 4 U Jamie Society needs a wake up. Fast food is making our children sick and fat. Is this what we want to leave behind? Still the most satisfying is a good homecooked meal with wholegrains and veggies. - Lisa   Go Jamie go! Obesity is fast becoming a problem in SA, among children AND adults. Who will the SA Jamie be? We need someone who talks simple, plain English with easy recipes! - Stephanie   Are you unwittingly supporting the cruel commercial wildlife trade? Well done Jamie!! I live in a 3rd world country and the rich must learn from the poor!! Rural people have used grains and veggies all their lives and they produce the greatest meals. Urbanization and access to fast foods is certainly a world wide problem. The poor and the rich weigh up the cost of electricity, the ingredients and then we can all rationalize!! When I was young fish and chips was our only takeaway! It was delicious, nutritional and 'real food'! - Norma       Name Email Subject Comment