Shrink burgers and crisps to beat obesity, food firms ordered

BURGERS will be made thinner and crisp packets smaller under a new drive to tackle obesity.

The Government is drawing up guidelines aimed at drastically cutting the calories in popular savoury foods.

Manufacturers will be told either to make products smaller or change their ingredients to lower the fat and sugar content.

The guidelines will apply to unhealthy foods commonly eaten by children, including burgers, pizza, sausage rolls, crisps and ready-made sandwiches.

Public Health England is drawing up new calorie limits for each of these foods – a move backed by Food Standards Scotland.

Further details will be announced early next year but the targets will be voluntary, so manufacturers who refuse to change products will not be penalised.

Campaigners say the initiative will not be enough to solve the crisis and are calling for compulsory regulation of products along with a ban on TV advertising of junk food.

Britain’s soaring obesity rates are among the worst in Europe and the Government has been criticised repeatedly for failing to act. Two-thirds of adults and a third of 11year-olds are overweight, greatly increasing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, cancer, dementia and diabetes.

We are meant to eat no more than 2,000 to 2,500 calories a day but on average we exceed this by 300 calories.

A typical quarter-pounder burger contains 250 calories, while the bun, chips and cheese will add another 500 to 600 calories.

Sausage rolls, pasties and sandwiches are normally between 400 and 500 calories. A packet of crisps will add 200 calories.

The guidelines for maximum calorie limits will be similar to those announced in March for sweet products, which may mean chocolate bars shrink by a fifth.

Health Minister Philip Dunne said: ‘With a third of children leaving primary school obese, we must take a comprehensive approach and now focus on excess calories.’

Professor Dame Parveen Kumar, of the British Medical Association, said: ‘Junk food adverts are very influential on children’s eating habits yet manufacturers get a free pass to appeal specifically to children, even in schools.’

Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Public Health England, said: ‘We will work with the food companies and retailers to tackle this as the next critical step in combating our childhood obesity problem.’

Health campaigners are urging the Scottish Government to do more to combat obesity rates.

Professor Linda Bauld, Cancer Research UK’s cancer prevention expert based at the University of Stirling, said: ‘From Wigtown to Wick, families are bombarded by in-store special offers on unhealthy foods. Stopping these promotions will serve up a better, healthier future for our children.’ Food Standards Scotland chief executive Geoff Ogle said the watchdog welcomed Public Health England’s calorie cutting plan, adding: ‘There is no easy solution to addressing our deeprooted, poor diet in Scotland.’

The Scottish Government set out its own pledge to cut obesity in June. Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: ‘Tackling obesity is a top priority for this Government and we will consult on our new diet and obesity strategy this year.

‘There is no quick fix for this problem and it’s important we take the time to get our approach right. This will include taking into account the views of a range of stakeholders and interested parties, and examining what further effective action we can take within this Government’s powers.’