Over the weekend the Government announced new measures to halve childhood obesity by 2030 - framed as a second chapter to its previous obesity action plan rather than a new strategy.
The measures will open for consultation by the end of the year, and will include:
- Clear calorie labelling in restaurants, cafes and takeaways, to help families know what they are eating
- Incentivising companies to reduce the sugar and calories in the products they sell (this is likely to be a reference to the Government's previously announced plans to cut calorie consumption)
- New restrictions on advertising unhealthy food to children on TV and online, which could include a pre-9pm ban
- Ending the sale of energy drinks containing high levels of caffeine, to children
- Banning the sale of sweets and snacks at checkouts, shop entrances and in buy-one-get-one-free deals
The Government will also launch a three-year programme to work with local authorities to see what can be achieved within existing powers, and promote a national ambition for every primary school to adopt a daily ‘active mile’ initiative.
The BSA will be monitoring this and pressing PHE and Government to provide help for smaller foodservice businesses regarding labelling.