Retailers Already Leading On Obesity

11 March 2009

Which? Report undermines healthy eating.

Retailers have been leading from the front on healthy eating for years, offering customers nutritious food at affordable prices and providing extensive information to help them make healthier choices.

Reacting to the report Hungry for Change? published today (Wednesday) by consumer group Which? The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said Which? is wrong to suggest price is a barrier to healthy eating.

Indeed the Food Standards Agency's 'Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey' found no significant link between income and dietary patterns. That demonstrates intense competition between UK retailers is making healthy food affordable for families of all incomes and education is the key to improving eating patterns.

The BRC pointed out that home cooking is currently increasing as customers buy more fresh ingredients and use retailers' tips to improve their cooking skills.

British Retail Consortium Food Policy Director Andrew Opie said: "It's nonsense to suggest price is a barrier to eating well. Which? is actually discouraging customers from exploring healthy eating choices by pushing the myth that fresh fruit and veg. are expensive. Customers should look beyond scare headlines, get into supermarkets and see just how affordable good fresh food is.

"Fresh produce is the main focus of promotions as retailers battle it out to offer customers the best possible value.

"Retailers have also re-formulated products, for example to reduce salt and remove fats; they are providing customers with more nutritional information than they've ever had - not just on labels - and working with government on initiatives such as the '5-a-day' fruit and veg. campaign.

"But food is only one element of the obesity equation. Factors such as exercise and education are also important."

Retailers' healthier eating initiatives fall into three main categories:

Product development – All the leading UK food retailers have developed healthy eating ranges which include foods lower in fat, sugar and salt. They continue to reformulate products, further reducing levels in all their ranges. They have voluntarily eliminated industrially added trans-fats from all own brand lines.

Nutritional labeling – Retailers have led Europe on front-of-pack labeling, making it easier for consumers to compare products and eat more healthily.

Communicating with consumers and government – Retailers are working with suppliers, the Department of Health, the UK's devolved governments and the Food Standards Agency to communicate messages such as the '5-a-day' fruit and vegetable, salt reduction and sensible drinking recommendations - aimed at influencing consumers' dietary choices.

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