England’s Crackdown On Junk Food Is Just Starting

New restrictions on the placement of junk food in shops will come into effect this weekend, October 1, in the U.K.

Earlier this week, the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) confirmed that displaying food products high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) in prominent locations, such as shop entrances and till areas, would be banned in England from October 1.

At the same time, the country’s current cost-of-living crisis has encouraged the Government to delay a ban on multibuy deals on HFSS foods, such as “buy one, get one free” offers, until October next year.

There has been no confirmation over plans for a crackdown on junk food advertising, which had also been delayed for a year.

It emerged that the Government was reviewing its anti-obesity strategy earlier this month, with reports that plans to tackle junk food may have be scrapped by Conservative Party Prime Minister Liz Truss.

“The implementation of the delay to the ban on volume promotions is welcome news,” says Food and Drink Federation chief executive Karen Betts, “including for hard-pressed shoppers at a time of rapid food price inflation.

“Our industry looks forward to continuing to work with Government to help tackle obesity and poor diets.”

Wes Streeting, Labour’s shadow health secretary, said he was “not tin-eared enough” to impose anti-obesity rules when food costs were rising.

Streeting said he would prefer to work with food companies before introducing regulations, which he did not rule out.

Labour previously supported now-delayed government plans to crackdown on junk food deals.

Nonetheless, the long-term costs and benefits on both sides of the argument are unclear.

With a record 36% of adults in the U.K. considered overweight, 28% considered obese, and a growing number of children falling into the same categories, many experts feel the Government needs to be enacting urgent change.

“Obesity currently costs the taxpayer more than the police, fire service and judicial system combined,” says Mark Jones, partner and food and drink supply chain expert at law firm Gordons. “The new Government may be concerned that HFSS are unnecessary regulations, but something needs to be done to tackle rising obesity rates. More short-termism won’t make people thin.”