Discounting and Promotions Contribute to Childhood Obesity, Claims UK Health Committee

27 Mar 2017 --- Members of the UK Government have declared that more robust action is needed in order to tackle the impact of deep discounting and price promotions on the sales of unhealthy food and drink. The statement comes as part of the Health Committee’s follow up report into childhood obesity.

The report also argues that rules on unhealthy food and drink promotions should be made tougher, adding that, “Retailers who act responsibly on discounting and promotions should not be put at a competitive disadvantage to those who do not.”

The report follows the Government's plan to tackle childhood obesity, which was published in August 2016.

Tim Rycroft, Corporate Affairs Director at the Food and Drink Federation, told NutritionInsight that the FDF agree that obesity levels in this country are unacceptably high, but said, “responsible manufacturers are focusing efforts on reformulation and portion reduction – interventions found to be most effective at tackling obesity.”

“The Government has challenged the entire food industry to help people get fewer calories from sugars by adapting recipes, reducing portions and encouraging people to switch to low sugar options,” he said.

“This robust and transparent process, expected to launch soon, will involve the whole food industry.”

He added, “Manufacturers, for their part, are up for this challenge, focusing resources on helping to deliver this key part of the Government’s Childhood Obesity Plan.”

However, the new report states that given the amount of food and drink that is purchased on discounts and promotions, the Government needs to follow the evidence-based advice to create "a level playing field".

It also states that industry representatives themselves, when giving evidence to the Committee, explained that the current Government plans risk being undermined unless there is regulation in this area.

Chair of the Health Committee, Dr Sarah Wollaston MP, urged the government to set clear goals in the area, saying, “vague statements about seeing how the current plan turns out are inadequate to the seriousness and urgency of this major public health challenge.”

BDA Chief Executive Andy Burman agreed that the committee rightly recognizes that the current childhood obesity strategy does not go far enough, and added that the government must have a ‘plan B’ if the urgent progress which is needed is not seen.

“The evidence that advertising and promotions have a clear impact on the food choices of children and families is clear. The government needs to take steps to stop manufacturers and retailers from deliberately pushing unhealthy products high in fat, sugar and salt to consumers, and especially children."

“We are pleased to see the committee will continue to hold the government to account on the progress against the strategy; it is critical to the future health of the nation’s children.”

Tim Rycroft added, “We are pleased that the committee recognizes the landmark move made by companies in supporting changes which stop adverting of products high in fat, sugar and salt in media aimed at under-16s.”

“The most recent Ofcom review found current restrictions on TV advertising, comprehensively adhered to and enforced, to be appropriate and sufficient.”

by Hannah Gardiner