Food content

The world's top 25 food companies have not taken significant action to improve diets despite their claims, according to a new report published.

 

An audit by City University, London, of the top 10 food manufacturers, top 10 food retailers and top five food service companies, compared what they have done against the strategy agreed by the World Health Organisation to tackle obesity and other diet-related diseases.

 

It finds that only a handful are acting on excess fat and sugar in the diet and only 10 are tackling salt levels.

 

 

 

Stakeholder Response: British Retail Consortium  

 

 

Andrew Opie, director of food policy at the British Retail Consortium, said: "This is a report that focused on global activity and does not reflect the position in the UK.

 

"Health and nutrition are key issues for all UK retailers and have become one of the key competitive issues amongst them as they respond to consumer demand.

 

"The BRC have just published a report that details the wide range of initiatives that retailers are involved in to improve information for consumers, reformulate products and promote a healthier diet.

 

"We know from discussions with our European colleagues that UK retailers are unique in the range of initiatives they have developed and the resources they have put in to promoting a healthier diet.

 

"This work is starting to have some effect as shown by changing consumption patterns.

 

"Retailers are committed to their role in the fight against obesity but success also depends on the role of manufacturers and government to make the necessary cultural changes.

 

"We also shouldn't forget that obesity isn't just about food, we also need co-ordinated activity on physical activity."

 

 

Stakeholder Response: Which?

 

 

A spokesperson for Which? said: "Today's report highlights the overall lack of responsible action by the world's top 25 food companies to address the global obesity and diet related disease crisis.

 

"Which? is particularly concerned that only six companies have policies specifically on children in relation to marketing, advertising, promotion & sponsorship.

 

"While many of those policies that companies have developed fall well short of what is really needed to stop the promotion of foods high in fat, sugar and salt to children, those that have no policy are even failing to acknowledge their role in helping the most vulnerable in society.

 

"Parents, and the public in general, are telling Which? in no uncertain terms that they want a stop to the promotion of foods high in fat, sugar and salt to children.

 

"For more information see: www.which.co.uk/kidsfood  

 

"The report calls for NGOs to monitor food companies against the WHOs public health strategy. As part of our nutrition campaign work, Which? will continue to put the spotlight on UK manufacturers, retailers, caterers and the food service sector to shame but also praise those that are doing their bit to help people make healthy food choices."