A healthy food standard will be introduced for supermarkets and other retailers in the government’s plans to combat levels of obesity in the United Kingdom.
Within the framework of a government initiative aimed at eliminating a certain pressure NHSRetailers and food manufacturers “will make a healthy choice the easy choice” for customers in a country with the highest adult obesity levels in Europe.
Supermarkets will have to report sales data and that which fail to achieve objectives could face financial sanctions, Nesta, the innovation agency which initially developed the policy, suggested.
Companies will be free to choose how to implement the new healthy food standard, which aims to make the average purchases of their customers healthier.
The measures could include the reformulation of products and revenue adjustments, the modification of store provisions, the supply of reductions on healthy foods or the evolution of loyalty programs to promote healthier options.
Obesity is one of the deep causes of diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
The new program, announced on Sunday by the Department of Health and Social Services, is one of the next 10 -year health plan, by which the government seeks to move from prevention disease to mitigate the burden of the NHS.
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The Secretary of Health, Wes Street, said: “Obesity has doubled since the 1990s and costs our NHS 11 billion pounds sterling per year, triple the ambulance services budget. Unless we limit the growing tide of costs and demand, the risks of the NHS become unbearable.
“The good news is that it only takes a small change to make a big difference. If all those who are overweight reduced their calorie intake of around 200 calories per day – the equivalent of a bottle of carbonated drink – obesity would be divided by two.
“The ambition of this government for children today is that they are part of the healthiest generation of children of all time.
“It is within our reach. With the intelligent steps we take today, we can give each child a healthy start of life. ”
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The environment secretary, Steve Reed, said: “It is essential for the nation that the food industry offers healthy, available, affordable and attractive foods.”
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An “important step”
Michelle Mitchell, director of Cancer Research UK, said: “Companies can play a major role in supporting people to make healthy choices, and this important step could help reduce the increase in obesity rates.
“Being overweight or obese is the second cause of cancer in the United Kingdom and is linked to 13 different types of the disease.
“The British government must introduce other daring preventive policies in the 10 -year health plan and the national cancer plan, so that more lives can be saved from cancer.”
Tesco is one of the supermarkets that welcomed the government’s announcement. Pic: Istock
Some of the largest supermarkets in the United Kingdom seem to have reacted positively to the plans for a new standard of healthy food, with Ken Murphy, CEO of the Tesco group, saying: “All food companies have an essential role to play in the supply of good quality, affordable and healthy dishes.
“At Tesco, we have measured and published our own sales of healthier food products for several years now – we think it is essential for a more important policy and better targeted health interventions.
“This is why we have called for compulsory reports for all supermarkets and large food companies and why we welcome the government’s announcement on this subject.
“We are impatient to work with them on the details of the healthy food standard and its implementation by all relevant food companies.”
Simon Roberts, managing director of Sainsbury’s, said: “We are passionate about good, accessible and affordable food for everyone and we are defending the need for compulsory health reports in the food industry for many years.
“The government’s announcement today is an important and positive step to help the nation eat well.
“We need a playing field through the entire food sector so that these actions have a real and lasting impact.”
Wes Streting Health Secretary will appear on Sunday morning with Trevor Phillips Show – Watch Sky News from 8:30 am.