Food companies have urged ministers not to “pile on more costs” in the form of new health restrictions amid huge economic certainty caused by the war in Iran.
Yesterday CEOs from food manufacturing and leaders from retail and supplier trade bodies held talks with the government, in a bid to convince it to backtrack over changes to HFSS legislation.
Ministers agreed to the talks following fears about the impact of switching to a new nutrient profiling model unveiled by the DHSC in January. Industry bosses claimed doing so would lead to huge swathes of products being effectively banned from advertising during prime hours, or taking part in supermarket promotions.
Leaders met in Westminster with food and farming minister Angela Eagle and new public health minister Sharon Hodgson.
Sources told The Grocer the warning over the “economic hit” from the plans had become even stronger following events in the Middle East, which have raised fears of impacts on shopping, energy costs and further geopolitical upheaval.
Supermarkets and suppliers want the government to delay the proposals and told ministers there should be no “moving of the goalposts” until a full economic impact assessment had been carried out.
“The industry wants to work with government to tackle obesity, but officials don’t realise the huge impact the changes to the NPM would bring, when we’ve only just implemented the last set of restrictions – on which no analysis has been done to show if it’s had any impact,” a source told The Grocer.
“The economic argument is even more important now amid all the uncertainty from the war and it’s absolutely vital that the government does nothing inflationary for our sector.
“Piling on more costs now will simply exacerbate the cost of doing business crisis, which is driving the cost of living crisis.”
The government had said it would launch a new consultation on how the updated NPM would be applied to regulations such as the advertising ban and promotions in the spring.
However, health groups expressed anger at attempts to stop the moves.
“It’s disappointing – though not surprising – that some of the more regressive parts of the food industry are privately lobbying ministers to drop the updated nutrient profiling model outside of the public consultation process,” said Katharine Jenner, executive director of the Obesity Health Alliance
“This update has been nearly 20 years in the making. Businesses have long known it would need to reflect modern dietary guidance, particularly on free sugars and fibre.
“Many more progressive manufacturers have repeatedly said they want to make their products healthier and put customers first and the updated model gives them a clear, consistent framework to do exactly that.
“The health sector and responsible food businesses are ready to work with the government to make it succeed – and ministers will have the opportunity to hear directly from them through the public consultation process.”
Jenner added: “It’s also important to remember that the nutrient profiling model doesn’t ban any products. Companies can still make and sell what they choose. It simply ensures that the products better for our health are the ones placed in the spotlight across TV, online and retail promotions.
”Some of the products being cited – including fruit juices – and small and medium-sized businesses aren’t even in scope of the restrictions. Updating the model is about reflecting the evidence and protecting children’s health.”
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