Major UK food businesses are urging the government for tighter food regulations.
- Tesco, Iceland, and Nomad Foods want mandatory profit reporting on unhealthy food sales.
- They propose legislation roadmaps to encourage healthier eating habits.
- Government’s ‘stop-start’ legislative approach challenges retailers.
- New calls come after junk food ad restrictions were announced.
In a significant move, major UK food retailers and investors, including Tesco, Iceland, and Nomad Foods, have jointly called upon the government to enforce stricter food industry regulations to combat poor diets. They argue for mandatory reporting of profits derived from sales of products high in fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS), as reported by the Financial Times.
The businesses are advocating for legislative roadmaps designed to incentivise healthier diets. Lauren Woodley, the nutrition leader at Nomad Foods, highlighted the pressing issue of childhood obesity, stating, “Clearly there is a childhood obesity crisis and it’s getting worse…We would welcome a raft of different reforms to incentivise healthier diets.”
Additionally, the concept of implementing a tax focused on HFSS foods was discussed. Woodley noted that while such taxes can be a useful tool, they alone are insufficient to change consumer behaviour significantly.
Oonagh Turnbull, Tesco’s head of health, criticised the previous government’s inconsistent efforts in introducing reforms, describing it as a ‘stop-start’ approach that posed challenges for retailers. “We’ve got a massive role to play but to make a real difference, we need the whole industry to play by the same rules,” she asserted. Turnbull emphasised that the HFSS legislation was pivotal in driving necessary changes within the industry.
This collective call from the industry follows the recent government decision to impose a pre-9pm ban on junk food advertisements on television, reflecting an ongoing commitment to tackling unhealthy lifestyle choices. This comes after legislation introduced in 2022, which removed HFSS products from prominent in-store locations like entrances and checkouts.
The concerted efforts of UK food businesses underscore the growing imperative for comprehensive regulatory measures to foster healthier dietary choices.
