Trillion calories trimmed off groceries in three years
FOOD and drink sold on our grocery shelves contain a trillion fewer calories than they did three years ago.
Manufacturers have reacted to the Government’s drive against obesity by reducing the salt, fat and sugar content in thousands of products.
While soft drink manufacturers had a sugar tax imposed on them, other grocery firms have been on a voluntary drive since 2015 to reduce calories by 20 per cent by 2020.
Healthier
The latest figures, which cover the three-year period from 2015 to 2018, show a 12 per cent drop in calories, from 8.3 to 7.3 trillion.
Sugar content in groceries is down 2.9 per cent, fat by 12 per cent and salt by 14 per cent, according to analysts Kantar.
Their report, compiled for trade journal The Grocer, shows how manufacturers have altered their products to reduce unhealthier ingredients.
But the figures show some have performed better than others in the voluntary move by the industry.
Yoghurts and fromage frais have seen sugar content reduced by an average of 10.3 per cent and breakfast cereals by 8.5 per cent.
However, chocolate confectionery, ice creams and lollies are down by just 0.3 per cent and puddings by only 0.5 per cent.
The one sector consistently hitting its target is soft drinks, where sugar is down 30 per cent due Government-enforced tax.
Many food and drink firms believe the targets are too high and too varied, while some say the impact of Brexit will damage their ability to pay for their large scale “reformulation programmes”.
But critics of Britain’s obesity crisis may use the latest data to press for more taxes on the industry.
Barbara Crowther, of the Children’s Food Campaign, said: “The latest figures crown the soft drinks industry levy as the indisputable champion of to the the Government’s child obesity and sugar reduction programmes.
“It’s great to see the drinks category has absolutely smashed targets, while other categories remain way off track in relation to the 20 per cent by 2020 ambition.”
A Food and Drink Federation spokeswoman said: “FDF member companies are committed to helping people make healthier choices.
“We are really pleased that these effects have contributed to a huge reduction in calories in the average shopping basket.”