Campaign groups have accused the government of ducking the “bold action” needed to tackle the obesity crisis.
Yesterday health secretary Wes Streeting rejected a series of calls for intervention in a report by the House of Lords, including calls for new HFSS taxes, mandatory heath targets and for food companies to be frozen out of public health policy negotiations.
While talks on a cross-government National Food Strategy are due to include plans to tackle obesity, Streeting’s response was interpreted as a sign that the government is not planning to go down the road of regulation. The health secretary had previously warned he would ”steamroller” companies that stood in the way of making their products healthier.
It follows warnings from industry leaders that government regulation could increase pressure on food prices and hit food companies in the pocket with a bombardment of red tape.
Meanwhile, the government also revealed it was still reviewing the future of the Food Data Transparency Partnership, which was set up under the previous government and has been drawing up voluntary plans for heath commitments, which campaign groups had hoped would be made into mandatory calls under Labour.
Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said campaigners felt hugely let down by the government’s response.
“We are deeply disappointed by the government’s response, which lacks the bold action needed to fix our broken food environment – despite the clear evidence and commonsense recommendations set out in the House of Lords report,” she said.
“While pledges to restrict unhealthy advertising, ban energy drink sales to under-16s, and keeping levies under review are positive, these are not new measures,” added Jenner.
“The report falls well short of the decisive regulatory action the Lords deemed essential to reshaping the food environment that has caused the rise in obesity.
“By intending to rely on industry co-operation in the upcoming food strategy, the government is prioritising the voices of those who profit from unhealthy food over independent experts and those directly affected by an unhealthy food environment.
“Time and again, voluntary schemes and industry-led initiatives have proven ineffective. Without urgent action, the government risks missing a vital opportunity to curb obesity and improve the UK’s health.”
Baroness Joan Walmsley, who chaired the Food, Diet & Obesity Committee report, slammed the government’s response and also expresed her anger at the lack of commitment.
“In recent interviews with researchers, former prime ministers and health secretaries expressed regret that they had not done more to tackle obesity and advised the government to ‘be bold and act fast’,” she said.
“The report from the Lords Food, Diet & Obesity Committee recommended bold measures to be implemented immediately.
“However, the government’s response is far from bold and kicks many desirable actions into the long grass.
Children’s Food Campaign manager Barbara Crowther added: “Whilst we welcome the government’s stated commitment to creating a healthier food environment, their response largely regurgitates what is already happening, rather than expressing a hearty appetite for transformative new policy development.”
However, food industry bosses welcomed Streeting’s response to the inquiry,
“Tackling the challenge of how we improve diets and lessen obesity across the UK is incredibly complex,” an FDF spokesman said.
“It requires collaboration across the entire food system, with national and local government, the NHS and the third sector. Food and drink companies across our industry want to continue to work with government and others to ensure we’re playing our full role in helping the UK have a healthier population.
“As a sector, we’re continuing to develop healthier options for consumers wherever possible, and acknowledge that there’s even more to do. We look forward to working with government to develop an ambitious food strategy that addresses the multiple challenges facing the food and drink supply chain – including the issue of obesity and poor diets.”
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