Wheyhey Calls for Supermarkets to Take Action Against Sugary Snacks

Wheyhey has recently conducted research into the UK general publics’ attitude towards sugar, education and supermarkets.

“Over 150 people were surveyed; this was conducted online. Wheyhey, a sugar-free, low in fat protein ice-cream wanted to understand peoples’ attitude to sugar, especially with the sugar levy being rumored (now to happen),” Aceil Haddad, PR specialist, explained to NutritionInsight.

 

The survey results concluded that:

There are grave concerns both in the UK and globally, echoed through the World Health Organisation (WHO), that we are consuming too much sugar. According to Diabetes UK, Type 2 diabetes has increased by 60% in the last decade. Type 2 diabetes has resulted in 7,000 amputations in the UK at the annual cost of £9billion (US$13 billion) to the National Health Service (NHS).

UK Department of Health research suggests that the reason for the promotion of less healthy options is because unhealthy items are less perishable, however, this is not the case with the rise of innovative food sources.

 

With the dominance of special offers in supermarkets, research has shown that the promotion of healthier alternatives would lead to an increase in sales of these versus sugary products, which are damaging to health.     

 

University of East Anglia research led by Head of Norwich Business School Professor Paul Dobson found that “special offers” in supermarkets are 20% more likely to have red traffic light levels of sugar compared to non-offers. “Buy-one-get-one-free” offers are heavily geared towards unhealthy products as appose to healthy ones. The promotion of healthier alternatives would lead to an increase in sales of these versus sugary products.

 

Wheyhey currently offers “a range of indulgent high protein, sugar free ice creams, designed to provide a truly healthy snacking alternative.”

 

Greg Duggan, Co-founder of Wheyhey commented: “The results from our survey reveal that there is a desire among the great British public for change in terms of the promotion of sugars and additives. We need to look at ways to provide better education to the public on topics such as the traffic light packaging and the health effects of long-term sugar intake. British supermarkets and food manufacturers need to take action on the creation and promotion of healthier alternatives.”
 
Damien Kennedy, Co-founder of Wheyhey added: “Wheyhey, is growing at an exponential rate. In the UK we will be launching into a supermarket this spring, overseas we have seen success in the Middle East, Germany, Estonia, Finland and Ireland. Innovation is central to our ethos at Wheyhey and as a small business, if we can do it, there are no excuses for bigger businesses not to follow suit.”

 

Education necessary
More than two-thirds of participants believe that there is not enough education on the contents of foods, and there is a consensus that the traffic light rating system should be a legal requirement, but clarity is required for whether the traffic light label is for the full contents of a packet or for a selected portion.  
 
In a study carried out by Dr Sheena Leek from the Department of Marketing at the University of Birmingham, it was found that 40% of respondents failed to identify the healthier product when two traffic light systems – circular and horizontal – were compared, while 25% struggled to pick out the healthiest ready meal when it had the circular label. 
 
Education is crucial to reducing the next generation’s obesity levels, with TV chef Jamie Oliver having recently embarked on a campaign to reduce sugar intake in schools. Wheyhey research indicates that there is a hunger to learn more about what goes into our food, which applies to both children and adults.