UK food businesses push for stricter regulations to combat poor diets.
- Leading retailers urge government to mandate profit reporting on unhealthy products.
- The call includes setting roadmaps for legislation encouraging healthier choices.
- Industry leaders stress the ineffective “stop-start” reform approach challenges progress.
- These demands align with recent government moves to restrict junk food ads.
In a decisive move to address the nation’s dietary health, UK food businesses and investors are urging the government to implement tighter regulations in the food industry. Their aim is to combat unhealthy diets by introducing measures that would hold companies accountable for the nutritional impact of their products. Leading retailers, including Tesco, Iceland, and Nomad Foods, have taken a stand, highlighting the urgent need for mandatory reporting on the percentage of profits derived from sales of products high in fat, salt, and sugar.
Leading this advocacy is Nomad Foods, with nutrition leader Lauren Woodley emphasizing the escalating childhood obesity crisis. “Clearly there is a childhood obesity crisis and it’s getting worse,” she stated, further advocating for a comprehensive approach to incentivize healthier diets. These steps are seen as crucial in driving the necessary changes within the food industry.
Tesco’s head of health, Oonagh Turnbull, has addressed the challenges posed by the government’s inconsistent reform tactics, stating that the “stop-start” nature of past approaches has hindered meaningful progress. She reinforced the need for uniform regulations across the industry, asserting that substantial changes in product formulation were largely driven by existing legislation on high in fat, salt, or sugar (HFSS) products.
These latest calls for reform follow recent government actions to curb unhealthy eating habits. Earlier this month, the government confirmed a ban on junk food advertisements on television before 9pm. Furthermore, legislation introduced in 2022 removed unhealthy products from prominent store locations, such as entrances and checkout areas. These efforts reflect ongoing attempts to steer public nutrition in a healthier direction.
The unified call from major retailers highlights an urgent demand for comprehensive food industry reforms to address unhealthy diets effectively.
