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Supermarkets in England must be banned from displaying unhealthy food and drinks at checkouts or using them to buy one, get a free offer, as part of a government crackdown on obesity.
The planned restrictions have been hailed by health activists as a “bold first step” in Downing Street’s promised campaign against obesity.
Cash restrictions will apply to other sales-friendly locations, such as store entrances or at the end of aisles. Similar rules will apply to websites, prohibiting selling links to unhealthy food on places such as home pages, or on checkout or checkout pages. Restaurants will no longer be able to offer free refills of sugary drinks.
The restrictions will not come into effect until April 2022 and will first be the subject of a consultation process.
The promotion rules – which would also end all offers to buy wholesale foods and beverages high in fat or sugar – would only apply to large retailers, those with 50 or more employees. . The unhealthy food location limits apply to stores larger than 2,000 square feet, with exemptions for specialty retailers such as chocolate shops.
It follows Boris Johnson’s pledge earlier this year to reduce levels of overweight and obesity. Johnson made the pledge after his severe coronavirus episode, which the Prime Minister said was exacerbated by being overweight.
The plans have been well received by campaign groups, with Action on Sugar saying ministers should resist any lobbying efforts by the food industry.
Professor Graham MacGregor, chairman of the group, said: ‘Finally, Downing Street is taking decisive action with a bold first step to restrict the sale of junk food on multi-buy and checkout offers, and in the face of one of the most great threats to the future of Great Britain. health – childhood obesity. “
Caroline Cerny of the Obesity Health Alliance, which unites more than 40 health organizations, medical colleges and campaign groups, said the hope was that promotions would be put on healthier foods.
She said: “Retailers will not be able to trick us into impulsively buying boxes of candy in supermarket entrances… The new rules will not apply until mid-2022, so retail and industry food have ample time to prepare and change their promotions to healthier foods and drinks. “
Diabetes UK chief policy officer Helen Kirrane said the restrictions were “a positive step in helping people across the UK make healthier choices when it comes to their grocery store”.
The definition of foods and beverages high in fat or sugar will be based on existing guidelines, but will include items such as chocolate and candies, crisps, sodas, and drinks sweetened with milk or juice. , cakes, pastries and puddings, cookies, cereals, yogurt, pizza, ready meals and fries.
The government argues that rather than saving money, promotions on unhealthy items tend to mean people simply buy more, while end-of-aisle displays can increase soft drink sales by 50%. %.
“Creating an environment that helps everyone eat healthier foods on a more regular basis is critical to improving the health of the nation,” said Jo Churchill, Minister of Public Health.
In England, 63% of adults are classified as overweight or obese, while a third of children leave primary school overweight or obese.
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