Wes Streeting news and analysis
Wes Streeting is the British health secretary whose policy on obesity and public health food reform has significant bearing on the retail and grocery sector. The Grocer covers his policies with news, analysis, comment and insight.
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NewsCook hails ‘first of its kind’ trial to ‘nudge’ shoppers to buy healthier products
Sales of Cook’s vegetarian lines grew by 15% after it made a small ’subtle’ change to the layout of some stores
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NewsDonald Trump causes paracetamol panic among pregnant UK women
US President Donald Trump’s claim that taking paracetamol during pregnancy can cause autism has spooked pregnant UK women
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NewsChief medical officer warns against use of weight-loss drugs
Chris Whitty said the lack of data about the booming GLP-1 category of drugs meant they should only be prioritised as a solution for people with morbid obesity problems
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NewsHFSS legislation ‘gutted’ by big food lobbyists as BOGOF ban goes live
A member of the Food Strategy Advisory Board said HFSS legislation has been watered down
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NewsDefra shakes up food strategy as it takes axe to FDTP
The Food Data Transparency Partnership will see its powers transferred to the new Food Strategy Advisory Board (FSAB)
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Comment & OpinionBovaer backlash: revisiting Arla’s social media storm
Ultimately, the Bovaer saga is a cautionary tale for brands navigating today’s volatile information landscape
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Category ReportX-rated chocolate: trends in chocolate 2025
Ads for chocolate are about to be banned from TV before the 9pm watershed and outlawed online. How will this affect sales?
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NewsBrands escape junk food watershed ban as ministers publish rowback on ad rules
Ministers have added additional sections to the legislation on ads for ‘less healthy food products’
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NewsWes Streeting says supermarkets will be ‘set free’ to decide how to meet new healthy food standard
Streeting said that under his plans for regulation under a new healthy food standard, retailers would be permitted to use promotions to achieve the greatest results on making baskets healthier
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NewsOrdo adds Wicked and Sonic Edge electric toothbrush ranges
The launches form part of an abundance of NPD set for this month by the oral care challenger
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Comment & OpinionLabour’s energy drink sales ban is a Monster move for public health
Health secretary Wes Streeting said the move showed how Labour was making the shift from treatment to prevention
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NewsLabour revives energy drinks ban ditched by Tories as ‘nanny state’
Health secretary Wes Streeting claimed the move could prevent obesity in up to 40,000 children
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Comment & OpinionMandatory health targets are a game-changer for M&A strategy
Food businesses are facing pressure to get healthier from government and major investors
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Analysis & FeaturesWhat do shock HFSS report authors want the government to do?
The first independent report on the HFSS promo ban is out, and after slamming ‘botched’ plan, its authors want the ban to target all HFSS products
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NewsInvestors call for Wes Streeting to publish mandatory health targets plan
The investor group issued a statement today calling on ministers to prescribe ‘robust metrics’ for companies’ obligatory reporting and targets
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NewsPromo study academics meet government to call for extension of HFSS ban
The experts will call on the DHSC and Defra to expand the scope of the ban beyond the 13 pre-packaged products covered by the original legislation brought in by the previous government
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Comment & OpinionWhy the HFSS promotions ban was never going to work
It’s easy to carp from the sidelines when well-intentioned folk try to effect important change – but the HFSS promotions ban was never going to work.
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NewsHFSS promotions ban slammed despite reduction in junk food sales
Two million fewer junk food items were sold every day. But researchers from the University of Leeds concluded that the ban could have resulted in a much bigger shift
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NewsOrdo calls for axing of tax on children’s dental products
Ordo is demanding children’s essential oral care products be zero-rated for VAT
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Category ReportThe self care shake-up: trends in OTC remedies 2025
Great news for OTC brands: the new NHS 10-year plan puts self care at its core. How can they make the most of the opportunity?