The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has urged governments to take “bold and collaborative” action against obesity, advocating for mandatory health reporting to hold food manufacturers, retailers, and hospitality sectors accountable for the sale of healthy and non-healthy products. The move comes as part of a broader push to enable the industry to guide public diets toward healthier choices.
With obesity emerging as a global public health crisis, the World Health Organization highlights its link to chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers, straining healthcare systems worldwide. In the UK, where obesity rates have continued to rise, the FDF’s call underscores the urgency for structured intervention.
FDF members, whose products account for a quarter of the UK’s food and drink market, have made significant strides in reformulating products. Compared to a decade ago, their offerings now contain 31% less salt, 30% less sugar, and 24% fewer calories. In 2024 alone, members invested £180 million in health-focused innovations, including recipe improvements, new product development, and portion control. Notable examples include Ben’s Original and Dolmio integrating at least one serving of vegetables in over half their ready meals, Bird’s Eye’s “Steamfresh” range adding 3.5 million extra vegetable servings to diets within a year, and PepsiCo reducing salt and fat in Doritos by 18% and 14% respectively—a £13 million effort involving new cooking technologies.
However, the FDF warns that rising costs and regulatory pressures threaten these gains. A recent survey shows 41% of member firms plan to cut health-innovation investments. The federation is calling for government support, such as enhanced R&D tax credits, grants, and capital subsidies, citing Scotland’s “Healthy Recipe Reformulation Scheme” as a model. Proposing a £4 million fund for similar initiatives, the FDF aims to empower UK small and medium enterprises to innovate without crippling costs.
“Food and drink manufacturers play a silent but vital role in helping people eat balanced diets during financially stressful times,” said Karen Betts, FDF CEO. “While we’ve made major progress in reducing calories, salt, and sugar in everyday products, addressing poor diet requires tighter collaboration. We need governments to forge structured partnerships with the entire food industry to drive change.”
The call has garnered support from industry giants like the Food Foundation, Morrisons, Danone, Waitrose, and Tesco. It also aligns with recommendations from the House of Lords Health and Obesity Committee, which last year labeled mandatory health reporting a key solution after nearly 700 English obesity policies failed.
Beyond reporting, the FDF advocates for consistent health policies across the food chain, ensuring consumers receive clear, uniform information to make informed choices—whether purchasing groceries or dining out.
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