Sun, 29 Jun 2025

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 Make healthy food more appealing, government tells supermarkets

Supermarkets will be challenged to sell healthier food, under a new government obesity plan.

* The UK government has announced plans to encourage food businesses to promote healthier options, in an effort to tackle obesity rates.
* Supermarkets and food manufacturers will partner with the government to make healthy eating more accessible to customers.
* Options for businesses include offering promotions on healthy food, tweaking loyalty points, or changing shop layouts.
* Critics argue that it is not up to the government to tell people what to buy, and that personal responsibility should be encouraged instead.
* The plans are part of a 10-year plan for the NHS in England, which will also include measures to reduce sugar and calorie intake.
* Research shows that cutting just 50 calories a day could lift 340,000 children and two million adults out of obesity.
* Industry experts say that all food businesses must work together to drive down obesity rates, as it is not just about supermarkets but also restaurants and takeaways.
* The government has been criticized for its voluntary approach to reducing sugar in foods, with some arguing that it will have limited impact without a wider comprehensive strategy.
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