An Israeli government minister has called on his country to hold back on the Chanucah doughnuts.

Health Minister Yaakov Litzman is on the warpath against unhealthy foods, and has urged people over recent months to shun fast-food burgers and sweets.

He said at a conference: “When I said we should cut down on eating McDonald's, people thought I was crazy. Maybe I didn’t need to specify the company name, my intention was to discuss junk food. If I had to say it today, I would say, out with doughnuts.”

He explained that there was “no need to feed our kids doughnuts that are incompatible with the values of health and nutrition,” and urged people to choose healthy alternatives enjoy doughnuts in moderation instead of eating a “mountain” of them.

Rabbi Litzman, who represents the Charedi party United Torah Judaism, said that eating doughnuts might be part of Chanucah traditions but that there were “bigger and more important mitzvot" and that the public should avoid eating the "fat-rich" food.

He started his attack on unhealthy food in May, when declared McDonald's “out” and two months later moved his focus to sweets, and compared liquorice treats to “the rubber you find in a car.” He did not mention what the public should do about oil-rich latkes...