Government must do more to tackle the national obesity emergency

On the first anniversary of the Public Health Responsibility Deal, Which? is calling on the Government to do more to tackle the national obesity emergency.

An audit of progress¹ by Which? has found that the Government’s approach to tackling the barriers to healthy eating has been inadequate. Despite major food companies being asked to sign up to the Responsibility Deal to commit to displaying calorie information, reducing salt in foods and removing trans fats, there has not been enough action. Given the scale of the diet-related health problem, that costs the National Health Service more than £5billion every year, Which? believes a radical change of approach and pace is required.

Which? has found:

• Only two of the top ten restaurants and pub groups have agreed to provide calorie information² with other big brands, such as Pizza Express, Ask, Café Rouge, Strada, Garfunkels, Beefeater and Prezzo, failing to sign up;
• Of the top five coffee shops, just Starbucks and Marks and Spencer – The Café have said they will display calories. Costa Coffee, the largest chain with over a thousand outlets, is still failing to commit to provide this information, as are its competitors Caffe Nero and Café Ritazza;
• Some good progress has been made on companies committing to reduce salt in their food, but many big name brands like Iceland, Findus, Princes and Birds Eye still have yet to pledge; and
• While most major companies have removed trans fats from their products, there are still smaller take-aways and other caterers that aren’t signed up to the pledge³.

Which? executive director, Richard Lloyd, says:

“We have the worst obesity rates in Europe and diet-related diseases, like heart disease and stroke, are blighting the public’s health. Our audit of progress made under the Government’s Responsibility Deal has shown the current approach is overly reliant on vague voluntary promises by the food industry. This has so far failed to bring about change on anything like the scale needed.

“The Government relies too much on voluntary deals with industry rather than showing real leadership. If food companies don’t agree to help people eat more healthily, then we must see legislation to force them to do so for the sake of the health of the nation.”

Which? is calling on the Government, in the next six months, to:

• Demand that all food companies use traffic light nutrition labelling: this approach works best, is preferred and enables people to see what they are buying;
• Establish 2014 salt reduction targets: there has been progress made on salt, but further reductions are needed and more sign up – particularly from caterers;
• Introduce a robust pledge for sugar and fat reductions: the calorie reduction pledge is vague and should focus on products that contribute most fat and sugar;
• Make saturated fat a priority: given the rate of heart disease in theUK, incentives for saturated fat reductions and timelines for meeting them are needed;
• Ban artificial trans fats: there has been a lot of voluntary action but it’s time to finish off the job and ensure trans fats are removed from all foods;
• Require calorie labelling in chain restaurants: if calories aren’t displayed voluntarily in chain restaurants by September 2012, the Government must legislate;
• Put pressure on companies to be responsible in their promotions: commitments are needed to ensure that products high in fat, sugar and salt are not actively and aggressively promoted to children and that price promotions are balanced; and
• Improve food in public institutions: standards are needed to improve food across public institutions, including hospitals.

Which? also wants to see responsibilities for nutrition and food labelling put back in to the Food Standards Agency to ensure that policy Is independent, open and joined up with other food issues.

Notes to Editor

1. Which? has carried out an assessment of the Government’s approach to healthier food choices. Please contact Helen Lacey for a full copy of the report. All figures and information correct as of 13th March 2012 based on the Department of Health website.

Sources: Company websites and annual reports, BHA Trends & Developments 2011, Department of Health for pledge signatories.

Which? wants the Government to ban artificial trans fats altogether, so that smaller brands, take-aways and other caterers have to remove these harmful fats from food too.

Press Release: Consumer, Food, Health, Retail