The UK’s food and drinks industry has dismissed claims by campaign group Which? that the Government’s health responsibility deal has failed in its aim to tackle the growing rate of obesity.
Which? this week published a report to mark a year since the Government’s Public Health Responsibility Deal with industry was launched and it said the coalition’s approach to tackling the barriers to healthy eating had been “inadequate”.
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The campaign group argued there had not been enough commitment from major food companies to display calorie information, reduce salt and remove trans fats in foods. It urged the implementation of legislation “to force them to do so for the sake of the health of the nation”.
“The Government relies too much on voluntary deals with industry rather than showing real leadership. If food companies don’t agree to help people eat more healthily, then we must see legislation to force them to do so for the sake of the health of the nation,” said Which? executive director Richard Lloyd.
However, industry association The Food and Drink Federation said manufacturers had made “some considerable progress” in the last 12 months.
“Over 70% of the retail market and 47% of the major high street and contract caterers have committed to further reductions in salt in over 80 categories of food, with FDF members making up nearly 30% of signatories,” FDF director of communications Terry Jones said. “Furthermore 90 companies have signed up to the pledge to remove artificial trans fats, a quarter of whom are FDF members, which in total represents 69% of the retail market.”
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By GlobalDataJones claimed the anniversary provided an opportunity to “reflect on the achievements so far” and to encourage more companies to sign up to the deal cover a greater proportion of the grocery industry.
