In Britain, a "shadow" minister is ready to assume a cabinet post if the opposition party gets into power.

The Daily Variety reported that Johnson was particularly scornful of British TV chef Jamie Oliver's crusade to get children to eat healthy, low-fat school meals.

At a fringe event at the Tory conference in Bournemouth, Johnson said there was nothing wrong with banning sweets, but that trying to get schools to bring in healthy food is an overreaction.

Johnson also defended mothers who, in opposition to the low-fat campaign, brought burgers and chips -- french fries in the United States -- through the fence to pupils demanding them.

New guidelines for healthy meals in British state schools were implemented last month, following Oliver's hugely successful "Feed" Me Better campaign.

Variety reported that Johnson also denounced new rules on booster seats for children in cars, calling recent regulations "utterly demented."