Misleading health claims on labels should be banned
DOCTORS say misleading health claims on food packaging should be banned under Scotland’s new obesity fightback.
Medical leaders from BMA Scotland also called on the Government to consider introducing mandatory reformulation of food products high in sugar, fat and salt and to ensure that restrictions on marketing junk food apply online as well as in shops and supermarkets.
The trade union was responding to the Scottish Government’s consultation on its obesity strategy “A Healthier Future”, which closes on January 31.
The plans could see Scotland become the first country in the world to pass legislation banning multi-buy promotions on unhealthy foods as part of efforts to tackle obesity. Proposals also include capping portion sizes in restaurants and takeaways, mandatory calorie information on menus, and extending the sugar tax to milky drinks like milkshakes and hot chocolates which contain less than 95% milk.
In its response to the consultation, BMA Scotland said restrictions on price promotions “should be comprehensive and not allow exceptions”, for example cracking down on buy-one-get-one-free deals but failing to target items such as multi-packs of crisps and confectionery which are “designed to promote greater consumption”.
It added: “Consideration should also be given to banning the use of packaging to promote a product’s ‘healthier’ nutritional content when one unhealthy nutrient has simply been replaced by another. For example, it is not uncommon for products to prominently claim to be reduced or low fat when in reality this has been achieved by significantly increasing a product’s sugar content. This risks misleading consumers who are trying to take a healthier approach to their purchases.”
It comes after retail and food industry representatives criticised the proposals as “badly thought through and unenforceable”.
The Food and Drink Federation Scotland said there was “no evidence of the effectiveness of these measures in tackling obesity”, and stressed that the “promotion to adults of all foods is a fundamental commercial freedom”.
It added that one of its members – an unnamed “iconic Scottish brand” – could lose £1 million in sales as a result of such measures, which it said would “likely result in major redundancies”.
Ewan MacDonald-Russell, head of policy at the Scottish Retail Consortium said there was a “dearth of detail over the exact definition of products, categories, and store areas” and argued that there was no evidence to show that price promotions “encourage over-consumption”.
Dr Lewis Morrison, chair of BMA Scotland, said obesity was placing a “massive burden” on the NHS and “bold” action was needed. He said: “Sales promotions are routinely deployed by retailers to encourage consumers to purchase products and are disproportionately used to promote unhealthy food and drink.
“On this basis it is clear that mandatory and comprehensive action is needed to help improve diets and reduce consumption of unhealthy products. Of course encouraging personal responsibility and education on how to eat healthily is also important, but it will not be enough unless bold, strong action on promotion and price is taken as well.”