Health and Vitality

Salt: tougher targets are on the way
The first salt reduction targets set for the out of home sector were “generous”, according to Public Health England. Should businesses prepare for lower limits and even regulation? Work on the salt content of food began in 2004. Since then…
Meat-free messaging boosts Greggs’ sales
The publicity surrounding its new vegan-friendly sausage rolls helped Greggs register an “exceptional sales performance” in the first part of the year. In the seven weeks to February 16th, total sales increased 14.1%, whilst like-for-like sales. The period covers the…
Government must tackle sugar supply, say experts
Actions to control the supply of sugar through agriculture and trade policy are needed to reduce sugar consumption in the UK, according to a new briefing from the Food Research Collaboration. Total sugar consumption in the UK is currently three…
Carlsberg finds cheer in alcohol-free sales
Carlsberg has committed to put “a lot of money” into its alcohol-free beers following impressive growth in the category, particularly in Western Europe. “The alcohol-free brews category offers excellent margin opportunities and is growing across Western Europe and also in…
Dairy firm exposes milk “knowledge gap”
Four in five people across Northern Europe do not know about the essential nutrients they have in their diet, whilst 40% feel they lack at least some of the essential nutrients they need. The new research, commissioned by Arla Foods,…
New “portion wise” guide launched
The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) has launched a practical guide to portion sizes called “Find Your Balance”. The guide uses simple hand and spoon measurements to help consumers estimate appropriate portions, when cooking and serving food. It is designed to…
Obesity targets missed but companies have “stepped up”
No country is on track to achieve the adult obesity target, with 39% of the world’s adults overweight or obese and 43.7% of children drinking soda every day, according to a new report. Now in its fifth edition, the Global…
Interview: Moira Howie, nutrition and health manager, Waitrose
At the Asset 2018 conference in Belfast last year, Moira Howie suggested that truly personalised nutrition is “within our grasp”. Footprint caught up with her to find out more. Footprint: How is personalised nutrition defined? MH: The tailoring of information…
Obesity still rising, but better news on fruit and veg consumption
The Health Survey for England monitors trends in the nation’s health, and the latest figures show obesity is still rising. The prevalence of obesity has generally fluctuated between 23% and 27% between 2003 and 2016, but last year it was…
Out of home sector told to step up on sugar
Foodservice businesses have been warned to increase their efforts to reduce sugar or face government action. Speaking at last week’s Food Matters Live event in London, Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Public Health England, said customers want faster progress from…