The Chartered Institute for Environmental Health is calling for the creation of a food policy council to stop consumers getting mixed messages about food.

It said contradictory advice about food consumption is confusing consumers and recent figures show that people are eating less fruit and vegetables despite the government’s high profile 5 A DAY campaign.

The CIEH said the new policy could integrate the different bodies responsible for food education and make sense of the advice given to consumers.

The issue will be discussed at the annual CIEH conference, along with proposals on a fat tax and other fiscal measures to encourage healthier food choices.

In addition, the CIEH will debate advertising of food to children, including the banning of unhealthy food advertising, as well as the use of unambiguous labelling on foods.