UK introduces voluntary guidelines to slash calories by 20%

08 Sep 2020 --- The UK government is urging the food industry to reduce excessive calories in everyday foods by up to 20 percent by 2024 to help tackle obesity. The new voluntary guidelines build on the UK’s COVID-19 and obesity measures. They include suggestions for a 10 percent calorie reduction for children’s meal bundles and for retailers making ready meals. The guidelines also propose salt reduction targets, a move supported by lobby group Action on Salt, which flags that further measures are needed.

“Consuming food and drinks that are higher in calories than people realize is one of the reasons why many of us are either overweight or obese. This is about broadening choices for consumers, as well as making the healthier choice the easy choice. Progress to date on sugar and salt reduction has shown that this can happen without compromising on taste and quality,” notes Dr. Alison Tedstone, Chief Nutritionist at PHE.

The food industry’s efforts are crucial to providing healthier food and drink choices for consumers, and calorie reduction forms part of this, PHE says. It is recommended that the following calorie reductions be made voluntarily:

• A 20 percent calorie reduction for most meal categories in the eating out of home, takeaway and delivery sector, alongside a maximum calorie guideline for all categories.
• For children’s meal bundles, a 10 percent calorie reduction ambition has been set to reflect progress already made.
• 10 percent calorie reduction ambition for retailers making ready meals, chips and garlic bread, alongside a maximum calorie guideline for all categories.
• For crisps and savory snacks, a 5 percent ambition.
• Combined guidelines for both sectors have been set for sandwiches (5 percent ambition) and pizza and pastry products (20 percent ambition).

UK lobby group Action on Salt has welcomed the move but says that it is long overdue and the targets “could go further.” 

Reformulation targets are a vital part of the government’s obesity strategy, which includes restrictions on promotions and advertising high salt, fat and sugar F&B.

Reformulation targets are a vital part of the government’s obesity strategy, which includes restrictions on promotions and advertising high salt, fat and sugar F&B.

“Reformulation targets are a vital part of the government’s new obesity strategy. Less salty and calorific foods will make it easier for parents to make healthier choices for their families, and they will make it easier for manufacturers to be able to continue to promote their products. However, it’s imperative that the entire industry plays its part in this, not just the responsible few,” Sonia Pombo, Nutritionist and Campaign Manager at Action on Salt, tells NutritionInsight.

A national effort
The government is encouraging the food industry to support its effort against COVID-19 and obesity, explaining that the voluntary calorie reduction guidelines can make it easier for the nation to choose healthier options in everyday meals and foods. High calories in a broad range of everyday meals and foods are one of the reasons why many consumers are eating more calories than they need, the PHE says.

Calories can be particularly high in takeaway and restaurant food, now a regular part of UK diets. For example, a pizza for one sold at a restaurant or takeaway can have as many as 2,320 calories compared to 1,368 calories when purchased from shops or supermarkets. Research suggests that when someone eats out or has a takeaway meal they consume on average 200 more calories per day.

Reducing salt
New goals have also been published to encourage businesses to further reduce salt levels in the foods that contribute most to salt intakes. Consuming too much salt is a major cause of high blood pressure which can lead to heart attacks and strokes, notes PHE. Despite good progress in some categories, more needs to be done to help reduce salt intake from the current average of 8.4 g per day toward the recommended 6 g – a reduction of around a third of a teaspoon, which would help to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

A second progress report on salt reduction, which shows good progress in some categories, such as bread and breakfast cereals, has also been published.

“We can all do our bit to stay healthy to help protect us from coronavirus and take pressure off the NHS. The food industry can play their part by making it as easy as possible for everyone to eat more healthily. These guidelines will help them take positive action,” says Public Health Minister Jo Churchill.

However Action on Salt says that so far, progress has been “weak” on salt reduction targets. This is due to a lack of will by the industry and a lack of pressure from the government, according to Pombo.

“With PHE soon to be restructured, it’s crucial that these targets are not neglected by whichever organisation is tasked with the successful implementation. Our hope is for a new food watchdog, independent of the government, to be set up to impose sanctions and levies for retailers and manufacturers who don’t comply as well as enforcing mandated targets for key contributors of salt in the UK's diet,” she adds.

Industry’s progress against the program’s ambitions will be monitored with reports on calorie and salt reduction expected in 2022. The government says it remains committed to further action if results are not seen.

By Kristiana Lalou