A Pivotal Moment for Health
The Obesity Health Alliance applauds the government for committing to setting a new, mandatory ‘healthy food standard’ (reporting data and setting health targets) to make the average meal slightly healthier, as part of the forthcoming 10 Year Health Plan.
Today the Department of Health and Social Care has called for a ‘Healthy food revolution to tackle obesity epidemic’
This is a high-impact, evidence-informed action to prevent ill health.
- Transparent data enables better accountability. A mandatory approach ensures consistency across the industry, prevents cherry-picking of results, and creates a level playing field for all businesses.
- Setting mandatory health targets for businesses would incentivise them to stock, promote and reformulate healthier foods. Based on a policy developed by Nesta, whose modelling on retailers suggests that this single policy could reduce obesity by around a fifth, helping over three million people reach a healthier weight.
Rising rates of overweight and obesity are caused primarily by the consumption of excess calories, fuelled by a food environment that promotes unhealthy options. Increasing equitable access to treatment, physical activity and communicating the risks of unhealthy diets to the public are important, they are not enough on their own.
To prevent and reduce diet-related ill health and tackle its growing impact on individuals, families, and communities, we need a life-course approach to systemic change. There must be a clear legislative pathway in this Parliament, and be safe from powerful vested interests – prioritising public health over business growth.
As outlined in our upcoming Obesity Health Mission, it should be easy for everyone to eat healthily, especially children. But it isn’t – because the food environment is stacked in favour of unhealthy food from the start of life. The Obesity Health Alliance calls for further action in the 10 Year Plan and beyond to:
- Make the Food we Buy Healthier and More Affordable
- Only Advertise and Promote Healthier Food and Drinks
- Raise Standards and Uphold Them
A recent nationally representative survey of over 2000 adults, carried out by Public First, commissioned by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the Alcohol Health Alliance, and the Obesity Health Alliance, revealed:
- 81% believe companies put profit ahead of public health.
- Just 26% trust businesses to be honest about the health impact of their products.
- 74% want the government to prioritise the public’s health over business growth
Quotes from Alliance Members:
Katharine Jenner, Director of the Obesity Health Alliance says:
“This is a fair and evidence-based prescription for better health; businesses urgently need the government to level the playing field to help them focus on selling products that help people live well.
“The government has rightly identified the root cause of obesity-related ill health: a food system that makes healthy eating difficult. Crucially, it puts the spotlight on the food industry and commits to holding it accountable for providing healthier options – rather than placing the burden on individuals who are already struggling to get by.”
Ravi Gurumurthy, CEO of Nesta, said:
“Most of us want to lose weight and make healthier choices but the food that surrounds us makes that too hard. That’s why obesity has doubled since the 90s.
“This new standard focuses on lots of small changes that make it easier to buy food that’s a little bit healthier. Nationally, it could send obesity rates down by a fifth – through business and government working together to improve our health.”
Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s Chief Executive, said:
“Businesses can play a major role in supporting people to make healthy choices, and this important step could help to reduce rising obesity rates.
“Being overweight or obese is the second biggest cause of cancer in the UK, and is linked with 13 different types of the disease. The UK government must introduce further bold preventative policies in both the upcoming 10-year health plan and National Cancer Plan, so that more lives can be saved from cancer.”
John Maingay, Director of Policy at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) said:
“A new standard to make shopping baskets across the UK healthier is a huge step towards creating a food environment that supports better heart health. This move recognises the vital role that businesses can play in supporting everyone to have a healthier diet.
“Obesity puts people at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which remains one of the UK’s biggest killers. We hope to see real momentum behind this new standard to make the healthier choice the easiest choice once and for all.”
Colette Marshall, Chief Executive at Diabetes UK, said:
“We’re glad to see the UK Government taking this bold step that recognises the need to change the environment we live in, as well as support the NHS to improve the nation’s health.
“Healthy, affordable food should be accessible to everyone. The introduction of mandatory reporting and targets on healthy food sales is crucial to improving transparency within the food industry and ensuring businesses can be held to account.
“Public health policies like this and the junk food marketing ban, have the power to shift the dial from sickness to prevention. The Government must build on these commitments in order to stem the alarming rise in type 2 diabetes and its life-altering complications.”
Dr Kath McCullough, Royal College of Physicians’ special adviser on obesity said:
“This is exactly the type of bold policy we need to shift from sickness to prevention. Obesity is one of the most significant public health challenges facing our NHS, driving preventable illness, demand and health inequalities. This is a welcome move so people can buy healthy food more easily.
“Equitable access to treatment is part of the solution, but we must do all we can to prevent people developing obesity and overweight in the first place. We need to make it easier to make affordable, healthy choices and lead healthy lives. Government must set out more bold policies on prevention in its 10-year plan to tackle the drivers of obesity and ill health more widely.”
Anna Taylor, Executive Director of the Food Foundation
“The introduction of mandatory reporting by all large food companies, including takeaway chains, on the healthiness of their food sales is a game changer. This simple act of transparency delivers the opportunity for systemic change – informing better policy design and triggering Board room conversations. The data will also clearly reveal to consumers which businesses are on their side and making healthy choices easy, and which are making it actively harder for them to eat well. The faster this is introduced, the better”
Sonia Pombo, Head of Impact and Research at Action on Salt:
‘We welcome the government’s recognition that supermarkets have a powerful role to play in shaping healthier food environments. This is a crucial step in tackling rising obesity rates and the growing burden of preventable diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease. But voluntary efforts have repeatedly fallen short – what we need now is bold, enforceable policy.
“The government must introduce mandatory, evidence-based targets for salt and sugar reduction, backed by meaningful financial penalties for non-compliance. This will help shift the responsibility away from individuals and toward a food system that truly supports healthier choices. Strong leadership, not just good intentions, will determine whether we can protect future generations from diet-related ill health.”
Nicki Whiteman, Interim CEO at Bite Back said:
“Today’s news from the government is a game changer for children’s health. Forcing all supermarkets to set healthy sales targets and be transparent about what they sell will level the playing field, empowering the good guys and shifting the dial on those that have been lagging behind.
“For too long, the odds have been stacked against young people. The aisles have been dominated by junk food and slick promos and eye-level displays are being used to target them. It’s time to push junk food off stage and give the spotlight to healthier options instead. Holding supermarkets to account in this way will incentivise them do that.
“Bite Back believes that no matter where someone lives, and whatever their budget, good food should be possible. This announcement is an important step towards realising our vision of a food system that supports every child to live a long and healthy life.”
Children’s Food Campaign Manager Barbara Crowther says:
“Parents overwhelmingly say that it’s getting harder, not easier, to feed children healthily, and overwhelmingly our shop shelves are full of heavily processed products high in fat, salt and sugar. It is absolutely right for the government to focus on getting the food and drink industry to play its part in rebalancing their sales towards healthier options, and requiring companies to report on how they are doing that is a very smart first move.
“Mandatory reporting of the health of sales is a useful foundation stone, providing more transparency of information and hopefully an incentive for food companies to shift their sales to more nutritious and healthy options.
“However, a full healthy revolution is likely to need more than mandatory reporting, and getting the food industry to sign up to targets is likely to take years. The Government should also look to create some upfront incentives for manufacturers too, which would help drive faster progress. We’ve seen how the Soft Drinks Industry Levy has done this, by dramatically reducing sugar in drinks. Similar levies applying to levels of salt, sugar or calories across a much wider range of foods would not only accelerate action to make products healthier, but any revenues raised could also be used to support healthy eating programmes, such as fruit and veg subsidies for lower income families.”
Lindsey Marston, Policy and Campaign Manager, British Dietetic Association says:
“We welcome this landmark government policy to make the nation’s shopping baskets healthier. The introduction of mandatory reporting is a vital first step—bringing much-needed transparency and unlocking the potential for deeper reform in our food system. When people’s health is placed above corporate influence, real change becomes possible.
Fair access to healthier food should not be a luxury—it’s a necessity if we are to stem and prevent rising obesity rates. We look forward to further bold prevention policies in the upcoming 10-Year Plan, and to working with government and industry to ensure public health remains the top priority.”
Professor Nicola Heslehurst – President of The Association for the Study of Obesity (ASO)
“This policy marks a significant and long-overdue shift towards prevention. It acknowledges the structural drivers of obesity and begins to address the role of the food industry in shaping population health.
Mandatory reporting and targets are vital steps, but on their own, they won’t address the full complexity of the issue. Obesity is driven by a complex mix of social, biological, and environmental factors. Tackling it requires long-term investment, equitable access to evidence-based treatment, workforce training, and coordinated action across systems.
If the government is serious about prevention, this must be the start of systemic change, not the end of it – if we are to reduce obesity and the widening health inequalities associated with it.”
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman, Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board
“We welcome the government’s new healthy food standard as a positive and necessary step toward tackling the obesity epidemic and reducing long-term pressures on our health and care systems. Councils are uniquely placed to support the implementation of these standards through our public health teams, environmental health officers, and strong community partnerships.
The introduction of mandatory reporting and targets on healthy food sales is a crucial move toward greater transparency and accountability in the food industry. It will help create a level playing field and ensure that businesses contribute to making the healthy choice the easy choice.
We look forward to working with retailers, health partners, and community groups to turn this ambition into action and help build a healthier future for all.”
Tracy Nicholls OBE FCPara, Chief Executive, College of Paramedics
The College of Paramedics welcomes the UK government’s new healthy food standard which aims to be a positive step toward tackling obesity and will help to address some of the long-term pressures on our health and care systems. Paramedics have a vital role to play in supporting prevention and are uniquely positioned to identify and address obesity early. The new healthy food standard is a bold first step towards prevention.
Christus Ferneyhough – Public Health Registrar
“I recognise the significant potential within this 10-Year Health Plan. While the details of its implementation will be crucial, it’s encouraging to see acknowledgement of the need for a comprehensive, preventative approach to public health, especially concerning our food environment. We must now ensure that such ambition translates into tangible, equitable action that empowers healthier lives for all and maintains that the health of our communities isn’t negotiable in the face of commercial pressures.”
DHSC NEWS: EMBARGOED 0001 29 JUNE:
HEALTHY FOOD REVOLUTION TO TACKLE OBESITY EPIDEMIC
- New healthy food standard will see big businesses promoting healthier food and drink
- Reducing daily intake by just 50 calories could lift 340,000 children and 2 million adults out of obesity
- Reforms part of the shift from sickness to prevention in the forthcoming 10 Year Health Plan
- A healthy nation means less strain on the NHS, helping drive down pressure on waiting lists as part of the Plan for Change.
Food retailers and manufacturers will “make the healthy choice the easy choice” in a world-first partnership between government and industry to tackle the obesity epidemic and ease pressure on the NHS as part of the Plan for Change.
As part of the forthcoming 10 Year Health Plan, large retailers including supermarkets will set a new standard to make the average shopping basket of goods sold slightly healthier.
Businesses will be given the freedom to meet the standard however works best for them, whether that’s reformulating products and tweaking recipes, changing shop layouts, offering discounts on healthy foods, or changing loyalty schemes to promote healthier options.
Public health experts believe cutting the calorie count of a daily diet by just 50 calories would lift 340,000 children and 2 million adults out of obesity. If everyone who is overweight reduced their calorie intake by just 216 calories a day, equivalent to a single bottle of fizzy drink, obesity would be halved.
Obesity is one of the root causes of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. With the UK now having the third highest rate of adult obesity in Europe, it remains a critical public health challenge, costing the NHS £11.4 billion a year, three times the NHS budget for ambulance services.
Obesity rates have doubled since the 1990s, including among children. A forthcoming report by the Chief Medical Officer will show that more than 1 in 5 children are living with obesity by the time they leave primary school, rising to almost 1 in 3 in areas with higher levels of poverty and deprivation.
It follows the government setting out in recent days a number of measures to tackle rapidly growing health inequalities, including investing more in working class communities where health disparities are greatest, and rapid action on the maternal mortality gaps in Black, Asian and working class communities.
Through our Plan for Change, the government is shifting the focus from treatment to prevention and creating a more active state – that works with partners to make the healthy choice the easy choice – and a transition of the NHS from a sickness service to a prevention service.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:
“Obesity has doubled since the 1990s and costs our NHS £11 billion a year, triple the budget for ambulance services. Unless we curb the rising tide of cost and demand, the NHS risks becoming unsustainable.
“The good news is that it only takes a small change to make a big difference. If everyone who is overweight reduced their calorie intake by around 200 calories a day – the equivalent of a bottle of fizzy drink – obesity would be halved.
“This government’s ambition for kids today is for them to be part of the healthiest generation of children ever. That is within our grasp. With the smart steps we’re taking today, we can give every child a healthy start to life.
“Our brilliant supermarkets already do so much work for our communities and are trying to make their stores heathier, and we want to work with them and other businesses to create a level playing field.
“Through our new healthy food standard, we will make the healthy choice the easy choice, because prevention is better than cure.
“By shifting from sickness to prevention through our Plan for Change, we will make sure the NHS can be there for us when we need it.”
Environment Secretary Steve Reed said:
“Britain has some of the best farmers, growers, food manufacturers and retailers in the world, which means we have more choice than ever before on our shelves.
“It is vital for the nation that the food industry delivers healthy food, that is available, affordable and appealing.
“Our food strategy will bring together the health plan, food producers and retailers to make sure we can feed the nation more healthily while growing the economic success of our food sector.”
The policy will see all big food businesses report on healthy food sales. This will set full transparency and accountability around the food that businesses are selling and encourage healthier products.
The government will then set targets to increase the healthiness of sales in communities across the UK and work with the Food Strategy Advisory Board on the sequencing of this policy.
Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO, said:
“All food businesses have a critical part to play in providing good quality, affordable and healthy food. At Tesco, we have measured and published our own healthier food sales for a number of years now – we believe it is key to more evidence-led policy and better-targeted health interventions. That’s why we have called for mandatory reporting for all supermarkets and major food businesses and why we welcome the Government’s announcement on this. We look forward to working with them on the detail of the Healthy Food Standard and its implementation by all relevant food businesses.”
Simon Roberts, CEO of Sainsbury’s commented:
“We’re passionate about making good food joyful, accessible and affordable for everyone and have been championing the need for mandatory health reporting, across the food industry for many years. Today’s announcement from Government is an important and positive step forward in helping the nation to eat well. We need a level playing field across the entirety of our food sector for these actions to have a real and lasting impact.
We look forward to working across Government and our wider industry on the further development of these policies and in helping to drive improved health outcomes across our nation.”
Sue Davies, Which? Head of Food Policy, said:
“Which? research has shown that people want retailers to do more to support them in making healthier choices. Six in 10 (60%) consumers said they support the government introducing health targets for supermarkets.
“Mandatory food targets will help to incentivise retailers to use the range of tactics available to them to make small but significant changes – making it easier for people to eat a balanced diet and lead healthier lives.”
Major investment firms have already signalled that they would be keen to invest more in healthier products, if they were given due prominence and promotion by food retailers.
Many supermarkets want to do more to make the average shopping basket healthier, but they risk changes hitting their bottom lines if their competitors don’t act at the same time. The new standard will introduce a level playing field, so there isn’t a first mover disadvantage.
The changes are part of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan, due to be published shortly. The plan will radically reform the health service and improve the health of the nation, to make the NHS sustainable and fit for the future.
Sarah Price, NHS England Director for Public Health, said:
“A healthy diet, which includes a variety of nutritious food can help people stay well and provide long-term health benefits, which is good for them and good for the NHS.
“That is why this move to make it easier for people to shop for healthy and nutritious food options is so important – it will help people reduce the risk of developing a range of life-altering physical conditions, such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes – both of which are on the increase in England.”
Henry Dimbleby, Author of the National Food Strategy and Independent Review for Government said:
What gets measured gets done. Mandatory reporting is a crucial first step in improving the food environment – it creates a level playing field, rewards the businesses already acting, and gives us a clear picture of what’s really being sold.
What gets measured gets done. Mandatory reporting is a crucial first step in improving the food environment – it creates a level playing field, rewards the businesses already acting, and gives us a clear picture of what’s really being sold.
It’s fantastic to see food retailers themselves calling for this. With proper data, we can start to reshape the food system and make healthier choices easier for everyone.
ENDS