UK consumers should not be “frightened off” certain foods as the country’s food watchdog looks to raise awareness of saturated fat, a leading dairy group said today (10 February).
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The Dairy Council said consumer choice should remain paramount amid a campaign from the Food Standards Agency drawn up to encourage consumers to eat less saturated fat.
The campaign, announced today, is being launched in a bid to reduce the numbers of deaths from heart disease and strokes. The recommendations included eating stronger cheese and switching to lower-fat milks.
Speaking to just-food, Dairy Council director Judith Bryans said that while it is always a good thing to make people aware of the amount of saturated fat they are eating, it is all about a question of choice.
“I don’t think there is anything wrong with the recommendation but I do think it is a question of choice. We wouldn’t want to see very young children between the ages of one or two having lower fat milks because that wouldn’t be a particularly good way for them to have their product. But I think it is a question of consumer choice and it does depend on the age group and your nutrient needs,” Bryans said.
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By GlobalDataNational recommendations from the UK’s Department of Health currently advise children between the ages of one and two to consume whole milk.
“I think that the public should be aware of their fat intake but what I think is important is that they don’t get frightened off particular foods and certainly in terms of children, people should understand that the recommendations haven’t changed,” Bryans added.
The Food and Drink Federation has backed the FSA campaign and said that reducing saturated fat is a way of responding to consumer needs.
“It is something that our members have been aware of for a long time and taken the initiative to get on board and start doing from early on,” a spokesperson for the FDF said. “In terms of reducing saturated fat, there has been lots of change in changing portion sizes, reformulating products, creating individual portions and pack-sharing products, as a way of still offering products but responding to consumer needs.”
Consumer publication Which? also supported the campaign saying it offers a “helping hand” to consumers but said it is “essential” that it is backed up by increased efforts to help consumers cut down on saturated fat.”
The consumer watchdog suggested a need for clearer and more consistent labelling of levels on front of pack, reductions in the amounts manufacturers, retailers and caterers use in foods and more information about what is in the food on offer when eating out.
