OBESITY STRATEGY

NEWS SPECIAL: HFSS FOOD PROMOTIONS AND MARKETING

NEW OBESITY STRATEGY UNVEILED FOR ENGLAND

WHILE THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT RECENTLY DECIDED TO PAUSE ITS ‘JUNK FOOD PROMO BAN’, THEUK GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO PRESS AHEAD WITH ITS OBESITY STRATEGY – A MOVE THAT WILLHAVE SEVERE REPERCUSSIONS FOR LOCAL RETAILERS IN ENGLAND.

The UK government has unveiled a package of measures as part of its new obesity strategy, ostensibly to help “get the nation fit and healthy” and “protect themselves against Covid-19 and protect the NHS”. The move, however, is set to have severe repercussions for local retailers in England as it will see the end of a range of promotional mechanics on products deemed to be ‘unhealthy’, generally products that are designated as being high in salt, sugar and fat.

The Government cited the fact that obesity is one of the biggest health crises the country faces, with almost twothirds (63%) of adults in England overweight or living with obesity and one-in-three children leaving primary school overweight or obese. The government says obesityrelated illnesses cost the NHS £6bn a year.

The measures have been unveiled now, says the government, because “the urgency of tackling the obesity time bomb has been brought to the fore by evidence of the link to an increased risk from Covid-19”.

The package of measures is being launched alongside a new ‘Better Health’ campaign, led by Public Health England (PHE), which will call on people to embrace a healthier lifestyle and to lose weight if they need to, supported by a range of evidencebased tools and apps providing advice on how to reduce the waistline. The campaign will target adults as well as kids.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock

The key measures include:

Banning unhealthy food ads – new laws will ban the advertising of foods high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS) on TV and online before 9pm. Ahead of this, the government will also hold a new short consultation on whether the ban on online adverts for HFSS should apply at all times of day.

Ending BOGOF promotions – new legislation will restrict the promotion of HFSS foods using promotions such as BOGOFs and there will also be a ban on these items being placed in prominent locations in stores, such as at checkouts and entrances, and online. Shops will be encouraged to promote healthier choices and offer more discounts on food like fruit and vegetables.

Front-of-pack nutritional labelling – a consultation will gather views and evidence on the current ‘traffic light’ labelling system to learn more about how this is being used by consumers and industry, compared to international examples.

Calorie labelling – new laws will require large restaurants, cafes and takeaways with more than 250 employees to add calorie labels to the food they sell.

Alcohol calorie labelling – a new consultation will be launched before the end of the year on plans to provide calorie labelling on alcohol.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “When you’re shopping for your family or out with friends, it’s only fair that you are given the right information about the food you’re eating to help people to make good decisions. To help support people we need to reduce unhelpful influences like promotions and adverts that affect what you buy and what you eat.”

Ross Finnie, Chair of Food Standards Scotland, The Public Sector Food Body for Scotland

THE SCOTTISH REACTION... The Scottish Government announced in June that it was ‘pausing’ a new bill to put restrictions on HFSS food promotions as it focused its attentions on tackling coronavirus – but the new Obesity Strategy in England looks likely to ensure that it is followed by a similar set of initiatives in Scotland.

Ross Finnie, Chair of Food Standards Scotland, the public sector food body for Scotland, said: “Food Standards Scotland recognises that the tools to address obesity rest at both Holyrood and Westminster and so welcomes the announcement by the Westminster Government of its Healthier Lives Policy which will both complement and augment the Scottish measures designed to tackle the obesity crisis.

“We have long advocated restrictions on advertising of food and drink high in fat, salt and sugar. We welcome restrictions on promotions, not only in terms of volume, but also on price and we welcome the requirement for calorie labelling on Out of Home eating, but can see no logic in restricting the requirement to large operators.

“No single measure will solve the obesity problem that exists throughout the UK and it is important therefore that this huge problem is addressed in a coordinated way by both the Westminster and Devolved Administrations.”