ACS

Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Health will today speak at a conference of members of the Business4life coalition calling for them to create healthy new snacks that will appeal to children and to cut down portion sizes.

He will urge them to reduce the sugar content in existing food and drink, and to sell "snack sizes" of products along traditional sizes. While many companies do offer smaller sizes, they are often only available if consumers "bulk buy". For example, multipack crisp sizes are generally 25g a bag compared with 34.4g on general sale, while multipack chocolate bars are 54g compared with a normal 62.5g.

Mr Johnson will also call for the sugar content of normal food and drink to be cut and not just replaced with artificial sweeteners and that snack sizes should be made available where people make impulse buys, like local shops, newsagents and garages.

These measures are part of the healthy eating code of good practice which was launched in 2008 as part of the Government’s “Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives” initiative.

Business4Life is a coalition of companies including Mars, Coca-Cola, Britvic and Nestle who have signed up to the Change4Life aims of reducing the spread of obesity and have committed £200 million to the campaign over the next four years.

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “ACS is a keen supporter of Change4life and we are playing a leading role in the movement. As part of one of the first Change4life initiatives we are helping to increase the availability of fresh fruit and vegetables in deprived communities.

“Our Change4life project is just one example of the good initiatives taking place throughout the convenience sector to make healthier choices available. Convenience retailers are well placed to adapt to changing customer needs.”