Government delays new junk food rules
The government has delayed imposing restrictions on how unhealthy food can be sold, leading to criticism over its failure to tackle obesity.
Obesity is when people are very overweight. It can lead to health problems, including conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer.
What were the plans?
As part of its strategy to tackle obesity, the government had said that from October 2022 there would be new rules for selling food and drinks that are high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS). These included bans on multi-buy (“buy one get one free”) deals and offering free refills for soft drinks. But now most of the rules won’t be enforced for at least 12 months and will not become laws until October 2023. Bans on HFSS adverts on TV before 9pm and paid-for adverts online were meant to in effect from January 2023, are also being delayed.
Why have they been delayed?
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said that the restrictions are being delayed because of the “global economic situation” and “to give the industry time to prepare”. Public Health Minister Maggie Throup said that pausing the restrictions would allow a better understanding of their impact on people struggling to cope with rising prices of energy, food and fuel (known as the cost of living crisis). The DHSC say that tackling obesity remains a priority, pointing out that new rules on where less healthy food products can be displayed in supermarkets will still be introduced this October.
What has the reaction been?
The announcement has been met with criticism from health campaigners. Barbara Crowther, from the Children’s Food Campaign, said the delay “threatens the UK target to halve childhood obesity by 2030”.
She accused Boris Johnson of “playing politics with our children’s health”. The Prime Minister has faced a backlash from some people in his own Conservative Party, including former health minister Dan Poulter, who described the move as “disappointing”. However, the Food and Drink Federation, representing food and drink manufacturers, said the delay makes sense to prevent, “further stretching household budgets.”