Hide food to tackle obesity, shops told
SHOPS and supermarkets should be forced to hide unhealthy food from customers in a bid to battle obesity, NHS chiefs have advised.
Health bosses want restrictions on where Scottish retailers can display sugary, fatty and salty products.
Such foods in ‘ highly visible locations’ encourages customers to make ‘unplanned purchases’, warns an NHS Health Scotland report published yesterday.
The plea comes as SNP ministers prepare to outline plans to ban multi-buy promotions of junk food – such as ‘buy one, get one free’ deals.
It is also expected that fast-food chains will no longer be allowed to invite people to ‘ supersize’, and cinemas may have to stop encouraging the purchase of huge servings of popcorn and fizzy drinks.
NHS Health Scotland’s ‘rapid evidence review’ of junk food promotions states there is ‘emerging evidence’ that hiding such items discourages their sale.
The report states: ‘Interventions require the promotion of unhealthy food to be restricted to generate the most significant outcomes.’
But it adds: ‘There are likely to be legal considerations for the Scottish Government to take into account.’
Industry bodies have already warned that the SNP’s proposals will hit customers in the pocket and damage small shops’ trade.
Yesterday Food and Drink Federation Scotland chief executive David Thomson said: ‘NHS Health Scotland’s report itself states no firm conclusions can be drawn due to the limited evidence. The report suggests certain food should be hidden from consumers – despite obvious flaws in the evidence. For example, swapping away from another brand was not considered when looking at the uplift i n sales of a product displayed prominently.
‘We urge the Scottish Government to consult widely and gather evidence on the financial, practical and legal implications for businesses and consumers before seeking to change the law.’
Andrew Fraser, director of public health science at NHS Health Scotland, said: ‘Interventions that change an element of everyone’s living and working conditions, such as restrictions on the promotion of HFSS [high fat, salt or sugar] foods, are more likely to be effective and fair for people across privileged or relatively disadvantaged groups.
‘Food and drink promotions can encourage us to make unplanned purchases... Minimising promotions could ease the financial pressures and make healthy food and drink choices the easier choices.’
The Scottish Health Survey this month found that unhealthy lifestyle choices persist despite efforts to improve the nation’s health. It noted that levels of obesity, smoking and alcohol consumption had hit a plateau in recent years, and the average BMI is at its highest level since 2003.