Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has signalled the government will make a u-turn on its obesity strategy, saying he believes the public have a “right to choose” what food they eat, after taking the axe to plans for a ban on multibuy deals.
The ban will now not come in until at least October 2025, along with the similarly sidelined proposals for a ban on junk food ads before a 9pm watershed on TV and online.
Sunak stated he firmly believed in people’s right to choose and at a time when household budgets are under continuing pressure from the global rise in food prices, it is not fair for the government to restrict the options available to consumers on their weekly shop.
Health campaigners have slammed the move and are now concentrating their fire on trying to persuade the Labour party to back tougher sanctions on HFSS food, with the party hot favourite to win the next general election.
Scrapping the already delayed multibuy price promotions policy, which is part of the government’s own evidence-based childhood obesity strategy, would be unforgivable – especially given two-thirds of adults are living with overweight or obesity and putting real pressure on the NHS stated the chairman of Action on Sugar and Action on Salt.
Without doubt, multibuy price promotions do not save people money. Instead, they encourage people to impulsively buy more unhealthy food, rather than make savings from food already on their shopping list.
If ministers are serious about their ambition to halve childhood obesity by 2030, then this multibuy price promotions policy, which is an important part of the government’s evidence-based childhood obesity strategy, is vital.
The Food & Drink Federation’s chief scientific officer said: “We welcome the UK government’s pragmatism during the cost of living crisis. At a time when both families and our manufacturers are struggling with high inflation, it makes sense to delay the restrictions on volume promotions for everyday food and drink products, including breakfast cereals, ready meals and yoghurts, as it risked further stretching already pressed household budgets.”