Nearly 70 organisations have written to health secretary Yvette Cooper urging the government to salvage a delayed consultation on introducing mandatory healthy sales reporting and targets for businesses.
The letter from health groups and experts is demanding a clear timetable for implementation within the current parliament.
The policy was originally promised in the government’s NHS 10-Year Health Plan last July, and promises to require large food businesses to measure, report on and improve the healthiness of the food and drink they sell.
The warning comes amid growing concern about childhood obesity and widening health inequalities.
Last week, government figures showed obesity among children in England was increasing, to around 10.7% of children in the Reception year of primary school – ages four and five –and 22.8% of those in Year 6 – ages 10 to 11.
The organisations argued that mandatory reporting and targets would create a level playing field for food businesses, giving them greater certainty to invest in healthier products while making nutritious options more accessible and affordable.
Signed by bodies including Cancer Research UK, the British Heart Foundation and the British Medical Association, the letter states: “Healthier food reporting and targets, requiring large food businesses to measure, report on and improve the healthiness of their sales, would make healthier choices more available, affordable and appealing for families across the country.
“Independent analysis from Nesta suggests it could deliver substantial health and economic benefits, improve population health and reduce pressure on public services. However, time is running out to implement the policy within Parliament.
“Without decisive action, the government risks failing to fully deliver a policy that is urgently needed to turn a corner on the nation’s health.”
Nesta, the nudge body whose proposed system of mandatory reporting for food companies was used as the basis for the government’s “world first” healthy food standard proposals, last month said a “lack of political leadership” had allowed the policy to drift.
Katharine Jenner, Executive Director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said: “The government says it wants to shift the NHS from treating sickness to preventing it, yet one of its most important opportunities to do just that is still waiting to get off the starting blocks.
“Children are growing up surrounded by unhealthy food, with those in the most deprived communities paying the highest price. We cannot keep expecting families to make healthier choices when the food environment is stacked against them.
“Food businesses need clear, consistent rules that encourage them to improve what they sell. Voluntary action alone simply isn’t enough.
“Every month of delay is a missed opportunity to improve children’s health and prevent avoidable illness. Ministers must now publish the consultation and set a firm timetable for action before this Parliament runs out of time.”
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