TOP sporting venues in Wales have been accused of letting down spectators by serving up unhealthy junk food.

Steve Garrett, who chairs the Riverside Community Market Association in Cardiff, said what was on offer at the Millennium Stadium and the Cardiff City Stadium was not good enough.

Both venues last night dismissed the criticism as wholly unfair.

Writing on the Institute of Welsh Affairs’ website, Mr Garrett said: “On and off the playing field we can be sure that our fittest and fastest sports stars are too concerned about their health to be regularly eating highly-processed ‘junk’ food.

“Yet it seems some sports clubs in Wales are happy to offer the potential sports stars of the future as much junk food as possible, with no alternative ‘real food’ healthy option.

“With the eyes of the world focused on football and the excitement of the World Cup matches in South Africa, this is a perfect opportunity to consider how football clubs could contribute to a greater public awareness about the links between food choices and health, and to promoting the importance of a healthy diet among budding young footballers.

“This is particularly relevant in Cardiff, where the new Cardiff City football stadium recently picked up an award as a ‘Healthy Stadium’. Yet in the view of Sian Evans, a dietician and the mother of one keen young Cardiff City fan – a view that has been repeated to me many times by other parents – the quality of food on sale at the stadium is of such poor quality that she won’t let her son buy anything.

“What Sian and other parents want to know is, with such an array of excellent food being produced in Wales, why is there no local, tasty, nutritious, additive-free food available in or around this so-called ‘healthy’ facility?

“Can we really hope to produce the sports stars and teams of the future by feeding our children – the sports stars of the future – highly processed, manufactured food?

“Welsh people love playing sports and attending live sports events. But the food on offer at sports stadia in Wales and England is probably the lowest quality anywhere in the world, along with the USA.

“The food available in and around the Millennium Stadium on match days, for example, is not only costly but is of very low quality, with little or nothing fresh or sourced locally.”

A spokesman for Cardiff City FC said: “We are proud of our proactive approach to improving the experience of all who visit Cardiff City Stadium, which has been widely recognised by our peers at the Football League in recent years.

“This is set to continue in the 2010-11 season, where following our ground-breaking family focus group sessions, a number of positive initiatives and promotions are already being prepared as a part of our ongoing family programme.

“Our outstanding Community Foundation team are also vigorously active in promoting positive messages to thousands of children in the community every year, including healthy eating, literacy and anti-bullying programmes. This is also something that we will continue to deliver.”

Both the Millennium Stadium and the Cardiff City Stadium have catering contracts with Compass. A spokeswoman for Compass said: “We take our responsibility extremely seriously and strive to ensure that all visitors have a choice of food and drink to satisfy their needs.

“Our offer reflects customer demand, using the highest quality product possible. This includes Welsh-sourced produce, home-made food and pies and hot dogs that have the lowest salt content and use the best cuts of meat.

“A stadium visit is usually considered a treat, but as awareness of healthy food continues to grow, we have introduced fruit and water meal deal accompaniments. From next season we will offer a wider range of healthy foods and drinks as well as smaller portion sizes for children.

“As an example of the responsibility we have taken in developing our offer, at Cardiff City Stadium, where we work with a family focus group, we are collaborating with local children to develop a new fruit smoothie drink and a soup offer for the new season.”