Health and Vitality

Dear Theresa May: I fear calorie labels may be a waste of time
The prime minister is proposing mandatory labelling in restaurants – but where’s the evidence for it, and how will it work? By David Burrows. Dear Prime Minister, I write in response to your consultation, launched last week,…
Race is on for energy drinks ban
An end to the sale of energy drinks to children moved a step closer last month. What’s happened and is this good news? DON’T READ THE LABEL. Under current EU labelling rules, any drink, other than tea or coffee, that…
Trading standards must get tough on health claims
Trading standards and environmental health officers are acting “more like advisors than prosecutors” when it comes to enforcing regulations that govern nutrition and health claims, research has found. Inflated health benefit statements, for example, are rarely clamped down on, the…
Sugar reduction “breakthrough” available by 2020
Food scientists claim they can reduce the sugar content of various snacks and treats by up to 40% and still maintain the same “sugar sensory profile”. The “breakthrough” could not come at a better time, as food companies struggle to…
Smaller plates won’t cut consumption – study
Tricking the brain into eating less by serving food on a smaller plate doesn’t necessarily work, according a new study. Experts at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Israel found that when people are food-deprived, they’re more likely to…
Councils must control takeaway exposure, says PHE
England’s poorest areas are fast-food hotspots, with five times more outlets found in these communities than in the most affluent, according to a new analysis by Public Health England. A map, chart and accompanying data published by PHE show the…
Vegans left disappointed by food choices
It’s boom time for vegan and vegetarian eating, but food businesses are failing to keep customers happy. A survey of 1,000 consumers in the UK and US found that 46% of vegans and 23% of vegetarians are dissatisfied with the…
Sugar remains key concern in FSA survey
The amount of sugar in food remains the top worry for consumers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Concern about sugar has risen more than any other issue since the Food Standards Agency (FSA) started its biannual public attitudes tracker…
Questions remain over junk food marketing rules
Do new rulings on online adverts for sweets and chocolate show self-regulation is working or woefully inadequate? In July 2017, the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), placed restrictions on the advertising of food and drink high in salt, sugar and…
Soft drinks levy a “double success”
The three-tier levy on sugar-sweetened drinks has achieved its aim. In fact, it’s been a “double success” that could provide a model for future sugar policies, according to an opinion piece published in the British Medical Journal. Firstly, products have…