SNP propose portion cap in fight against obesity

Moves prompt fears of extra costs for small businesses

Pubs, takeaways and cafés face having their portion sizes limited by the state under anti-obesity measures proposed by the SNP.

The Scottish Government is also looking at banning junk food promotions from all outlets and forcing burger vans and tea rooms to introduce nutrition labelling.

It has led to fears that small businesses with tiny profit margins will be weighed down by yet more red tape.

Health campaigners welcomed the proposals in the draft obesity strategy, which went out consultation yesterday.

Ministers say their interventions will “include action on calorie labelling, portion size and calorie cap options and promotions and marketing”.

The planned move targets “out of home” settings, which cover small and large businesses.

Andy Willox, from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Scotland, said that could have “huge implications” for independent food businesses already facing “spiralling overheads and challenging competition”.

“Before putting this plan into action, ministers must understand the impact their proposals could have on every local fishmonger, takeaway, deli, corner shop and baker,” he said.

The Scottish Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs warned a “blitz on businesses” is not the way to tackle the obesity crisis.

“The emphasis must remain on education and personal responsibility,” he said.

“Simply forcing the burden onto restaurants and cafés would be the actions of a government shirking responsibility.”

The strategy also proposes a role for the Named Person, the SNP’s controversial plan to assign a public sector worker to look out for the welfare of every child.

Health visitors will be used to “engage with families to promote healthy eating, portion control and mealtime behaviours and, where appropriate, offer referrals to family healthy living and weight interventions”, the Government says.

Simon Calvert, from the No To Named Persons campaign group, said: “Just when you thought the nanny state couldn’t interfere any further, now we find the Scottish Government using named persons in the form of health visitors to spy on what mums and dads feed their kids.”

Aileen Campbell, the public health minister, said: “We are putting forward a package of bold measures designed to help people make healthier choices, empower personal change and show real leadership.

“Now we need people who live, work and consume food and drink in Scotland to tell us what they think.”

The consultation runs until January 31.

Picture: Simon Walton. Burger vans would have to have nutrition labelling.