Leading health campaigners have called on the government to stand firm on its commitment to ban promotions of unhealthy foods after reports suggested the policy would be axed.
The Times reported last week that, under pressure from some of his MPs, Boris Johnson had made clear he is prepared to drop plans to tighten regulations on the promotion of unhealthy food and drinks to avoid a rebellion on the matter.
Under the plans, BOGOF and other volume promotions on foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) are due to be banned from April 2022, despite fierce opposition from parts of the food industry notably the Food and Drink Federation.
Free refills of sugary soft drinks are also set to be banned in the out-of-home sector.
In a letter to The Times this week, representatives from organisations including the British Heart Foundation, Diabetes UK and Sustain, wrote that “marketing tactics, such as promoting junk food at checkouts, aisle ends and through multi-buy offers, are used by the food industry to sell ever-increasing amounts of unhealthy food with scant concern for the impact this has on our health”.
They noted that childhood obesity is “at a devastating all-time high” with children from the poorest households most affected.
The wrote that “rowing back on this bold and vital evidence-based public policy at this point would be a grave error”, adding that “excess weight-related illness and its subsequent impact on society and the economy will continue unless the government sustains its strong commitment to addressing obesity”.
In its levelling up white paper published this week, the government said its forthcoming food strategy white paper would take forward recommendations from Henry Dimbleby’s independent review “to help ensure that everyone can access, understand, and enjoy the benefits of a healthy and sustainable diet”.
