The onset of the economic recession has caused healthy eating to fall down the agenda in the UK, a new study has suggested.
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According to a survey conducted by consumer group Which?, some 24% of UK adults said healthier eating was less important to them in view of the downturn, while 56% said price had become a more important factor in food purchasing.
The publication of the survey coincided with Hungry for Change?, a review by the consumer watchdog of the progress made promoting healthier eating over the last five years.
According to Which?, 76% of those polled thought the government should act to make choosing healthier options easier.
While the report welcomed positive initiatives, such as salt reduction, the consumer group urged manufacturers and retailers to improve their record on promoting healthy foods. It said “significant problems” remained, including “confusing” health and nutrition claims on foods that were high in salt, sugar and fat.
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By GlobalData“People want to make healthier choices, but it’s not easy. As the credit crunch bites it’s important that government and industry aren’t distracted. They can’t be allowed to put the fight against obesity on hold,” Sue Davies, Which? chief policy adviser, said.
However, industry organisation the British Retail Consortium responded by accusing the report of “undermining” healthy eating.
“Retailers have been leading from the front on healthy eating for years, offering customers nutritious food at affordable prices and providing extensive information to help them make healthier choices,” the BRC said.
The BRC said Which? was wrong to suggest price is a barrier to healthy eating, pointing to the UK Food Standards Agency’s ‘Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey’, which found no “significant” link between diet and income.
“It’s nonsense to suggest price is a barrier to eating well. Which? is actually discouraging customers from exploring healthy eating choices by pushing the myth that fresh fruit and veg are expensive,” food policy director Andrew Opie said.
“Fresh produce is the main focus of promotions as retailers battle it out to offer customers the best possible value.
“Retailers have also re-formulated products, for example to reduce salt and remove fats; they are providing customers with more nutritional information than they’ve ever had – not just on labels – and working with government on initiatives such as the ‘5-a-day’ fruit and veg campaign.”
