British political parties are emboldened by forcing food producers to make their products healthier, with the latest poll showing two-thirds of voters backing the move. are asked to show.
Forcing food manufacturers to remove large amounts of fat, salt and sugar would help “de-normalize” the everyday consumption of unhealthy foods, said Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the King’s Fund. told the Guardian.
She told the Conservatives and Labor that the food and advertising industries are likely to oppose forced regulatory reforms to tackle the rise in diet-related illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and healthy food. He called for a stand against “commercial self-interest.” dementia.
Overweight and obesity pose such a threat to people’s health and economic prosperity that the UK is on “war alert”, taking drastic action inspired by the bold measures that have led to a sharp decline in the number of smokers. He added that it is necessary to take .
Overall, 67.3% of Britons think the government should require companies to reduce the amount of fat, salt and sugar in their products, according to research by influential health think tank Ipsos Mori. It turns out that they agree that. Only 5% opposed it.
A similar number, 64.6%, want tougher new restrictions on advertising unhealthy food and drink, but Rishi Sunak resists this. Only 5.2% opposed it.
Mr Woolnough said: “These findings show that politicians and leaders need a little more courage to take this issue seriously. Two-thirds of adults are overweight. The trends are frightening and we need to get ahead of them. This is a huge social issue.
“I’m concerned that politicians on all sides are not calling for the need to be on war footing as we face a huge social challenge of poor health. The next government needs to make this a permanent priority. This is a huge societal problem. Action is needed.
“I want to see a government that is bolder, more courageous and more supportive of public opinion. [of tough action on bad diet]. The public understands that. Political courage and bravery come into play when evidence and signs of support are available, allowing us to be a little bolder than people in the past. ”
He said ministers should ignore the “nanny state” claims made by libertarian-leaning MPs and think tanks who oppose government intervention in bad parliaments. The Institute for Government Research last year identified this as the main reason successive governments have done little to tackle obesity in recent decades, making Britain one of the fattest countries in Europe.
Mr Woolnough said some politicians had ridiculed government efforts to tackle bad eating habits as nanny statistics for “ideological reasons”, while some in the media had ridiculed them for “commercial self-interest”. said Woolnough. print and broadcast media;
Last month, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting warned food manufacturers that a Labor government would force companies reluctant to reformulate their products.
“My approach was and is to build a national coalition of the willing. [food and drink] And let me be clear to the rest of the industry: this is no longer a question of leaders or laggards. You either get on the steamroller or you go under,” he said.
He also criticized the prevalence of junk food advertising and tactics, saying it meant “we as a people are highly manipulated by the marketing being thrown at us.”
Mr Woolnough helped persuade the previous Labor government to introduce bans on tobacco advertising and indoor smoking while working for Cancer Research UK, but after holding senior roles at several health charities, He was appointed head of the King’s Fund in April.
He pointed to the government’s success in getting food companies to reduce the amount of salt in their products, and the fact that the sugar tax, which began in 2018, had made many carbonated drinks healthier, and said ministers cites it as a route map for how to make food healthier. .
But for any reform to be successful, it must be made mandatory and include “milestones” (dates by which certain reductions in fat, salt and sugar must be achieved), and those who do not comply must be subject to financial penalties. It must also include a threat of fine. she said. If the Minister makes it mandatory for all producers, it means no company can gain an advantage over its competitors by continuing to use unhealthy amounts of these ingredients.
Mr Woolnough said changes to the nutritional content of foods could be introduced in stages so that consumers would not notice changes in taste due to changes in formulation.
Less than half of the 1,115 respondents to the King’s Fund survey said the government was doing enough to improve health.
Bite Back, the athletic arm of chef Jamie Oliver’s organization, welcomed Mr Woolnough’s comments. “Being healthy should be easy, but it isn’t,” said James Toope, the group’s chief executive. While they earn a living, the health of nearly a third of children in the UK is at risk.
“We know from our latest research Seven out of ten major food companies make most of their profits from selling unhealthy foods and drinks. This King’s Fund poll reflects the voices we hear from young people every day: They are tired of being targeted by junk food giants and want government action. . The time for voluntary action is long past, and governments that care about the health of future generations need to step up and introduce further regulations. ”
The government said it was already taking “decisive action” against poor eating habits. A government spokesperson said: “Obesity costs the NHS around £6.5 billion a year and we are taking decisive action against junk food and alcohol.”
“Alongside introducing mandatory calorie labeling on menus and removing less healthy foods from key supermarket points of sale, our soft drinks tax, salt and sugar reduction programs have already achieved significant results. Additionally, we have been working on the largest liquor tax reform in over 140 years.
“We will also introduce limits on offers such as ‘buy one get one free’ and on advertising of less healthy products on TV and online.”
The food industry says many companies are already voluntarily reformulating their products to reduce sugar and salt content and reduce calories.
A spokesperson for the Food and Beverage Federation said: “Food and drink manufacturers have been working hard for many years to adapt recipes to make them healthier and reduce portion sizes, and to meet the Government’s voluntary reform targets. .
“We continue to invest heavily in the science and innovation necessary to remove calories, salt, sugar and fat and add fiber, fruits and vegetables to popular everyday products. As a result, our members’ products , compared to eight years ago, the average shopping cart has 13% fewer calories, 15% less sugar, and 24% less salt.”
