The Scottish government is to push ahead with a sweeping ban on HFSS promotions despite industry warnings it will leave families struggling to afford food.
In her programme for action for 2022/23 yesterday, first minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would bring forward a new Public Health Bill which would clamp down on the promotion of unhealthy food and drink, as well as new proposals to restrict alcohol promotions.
The move comes with the UK government having delayed large elements of its plans for a crackdown on HFSS promotions, with new PM Liz Truss having indicated in her leadership campaign she may scrap some or even all the proposals, in a move to help the cost of living crisis.
“Containing price rises has become near-on impossible for the food and drink industry despite the best efforts from our companies,” said FDF Scotland CEO David Thomson.
“It is great to see the Scottish government has committed to working with businesses to identify ways to help address the increased costs.
“It is extremely disappointing however to see the Scottish government still intends to bring forward a bill to restrict the promotions of food and drink.
“They should not be bringing forward a law which will increase the cost of everyday food and drink at a time when Scottish families are struggling to make ends meet.”
Opponents of the plans claim they go even further than the original proposals in England, with a consultation currently underway to scrap not only volume and location promotions, but also temporary price promotions for HFSS products as well as meal deals.
The FDF had made a call to suspend the regulation to Scottish ministers this week, warning the plans would increase the cost of food as well as remove avenues for promoting healthier options.
However, the decision to push ahead with the proposals was praised by health campaigners.
David Ferguson, public affairs manager for Cancer Research UK in Scotland, said: “We are delighted a new law is coming to restrict junk food price promotions in Scotland, something we have campaigned for over many years.
“Shoppers who regularly use price promotions buy around a fifth more items that are high in fat, salt and sugar. These deals might seem appealing, but they lead us to consume more calories overall.
“This action will go some way to tackling overweight and obesity – the second-biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking. In 2019, almost seven in 10 (66%) adults aged 16-plus in Scotland were overweight or obese, the highest proportion of all the UK countries: England (64%), Wales (61%) and Northern Ireland (65%).
”Scotland has the chance to be the first UK country to introduce these important public health measures if we get moving quickly.
“It is vital we make the healthy choice the easiest choice to make.”
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