With Tesco CEO Ken Murphy recently urging the health secretary to introduce mandatory reporting on the healthiness of food and drink sales, the call for industry to lead on tackling obesity is growing louder – and rightly so.
As the makers of Britain’s food and drink, we stand shoulder to shoulder with retailers, government, and healthcare professionals in recognising that we’ve reached a critical juncture. Bold, co-ordinated action is needed to improve the health of our nation.
That’s why we support mandatory reporting on the sales of healthier and less healthy products across manufacturing, retail and out of home, and we urge government to include this in its Food Strategy.
Our sector is very aware of the critical role we play in shaping diets and helping people to lead healthier lifestyles, and has already made major strides in developing healthier options for consumers – reformulating products, innovating healthier options, and investing hundreds of millions in change.
Progress on health
Today, we’re releasing new data which demonstrates the industry’s commitment and progress. In the past 10 years, UK food and drink manufacturers have removed around a third of the salt and sugar and a quarter of the calories from their products. And with only 9% of adults getting enough fibre, we’ve added over a billion extra servings of fibre to the nation’s diet in the past three years alone.
We also agree with Ken Murphy that tackling obesity and poor diets is beyond just one organisation, or indeed just one part of our complex food system.
It’s time for government, working in partnership with the entire food industry, to rethink how we can create a healthier nation. This can start with reviewing how we communicate with consumers. Do our nutrition labels still help people make informed decisions? Could a national campaign on healthy eating shift behaviours at scale? These are questions we must answer together.
The food we buy at supermarkets and consume at home is just one part of the picture. Whether it’s a sandwich from a café, dinner in a restaurant, or a Friday night takeaway, government needs to take a consistent approach to health policy. Consumers should have access to the same information and support to make healthier choices, no matter where they’re eating.
Manufacturers are stepping up by offering smaller portions, fortifying products with nutrients, and launching healthier ranges. However, this significant work and investment from food manufacturers needs to be matched by action across the board.
We need parity between manufacturing, retail, and hospitality – so that no part of the food system is left behind. A holistic, joined-up approach, rooted in partnership, can help us build a healthier future for everyone.
Karen Betts, chief executive, Food & Drink Federation
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