UK government targets healthier food choices for businesses
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The UK government is introducing a new initiative aimed at reducing obesity by encouraging food businesses to offer healthier products. As part of the forthcoming 10-Year Health Plan, the Department of Health and Social Care has set a target for major retailers, including supermarkets, to make the average shopping basket healthier. Businesses will have the flexibility to decide how to meet this goal.
To support this, retailers and manufacturers are being urged to take actions such as reformulating products, redesigning store layouts, providing discounts on nutritious food, and adapting loyalty schemes. Public health experts note that even small changes—such as cutting 50 calories per day—could have a major impact on reducing obesity.
Obesity, a leading contributor to conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, places a huge burden on the NHS, costing £11.4 billion annually. The government is shifting its approach from treating obesity to focusing on prevention, with the aim of making healthier options more accessible and attractive to the public.
With rising obesity levels, particularly among children, the strategy places prevention at its core, addressing health inequalities and supporting the food industry in promoting healthier lifestyles.
