The Department of Health and Social Care are seeking views on how the government can reduce children’s exposure to advertising for products that are high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS), to reduce children’s overconsumption of these products.
DHSC want any future advertising restrictions to be focused on HFSS products that are linked to childhood obesity and to encourage brands to make their products healthier.
The consultation seeks views on updating the food allergen labelling rules for foods which are prepacked for direct sale (PPDS). In particular, which options would work best:
The consultation includes proposals to restrict the location and promotion of ‘discretionary foods’ in retail outlets and other businesses selling to the public. Discretionary foods are defined as confectionery, sweet biscuits, crisps, savoury snacks, cakes, pastries, puddings, and soft drinks with added sugar.
The consultation document proposes a number of location and promotional restrictions for these discretionary foods that will impact on convenience retailers, including:
The Scottish Government has launched a consultation on restrictions on the promotion and marketing of “discretionary foods” such as cakes, confectionery and savoury snacks. The consultation proposes that restrictions would be introduced for the location of products in-store, the promotion of value, shelf-edge displays and signage, upselling, and having branded chillers and floor display units. The consultation also proposes to restrict multi-buy price promotions, however, price marked packs would still be allowed.
The Department for Health and Social Care is seeking views on making places that serve food and drink outside of the home show calorie information (calorie labelling). For example, this could include on menus in restaurants, cafes, pubs, coffee shops and takeaways.
The Food Standards Agency has launched a consultation on amendments to the Food Law Code of Practice (Code) for England as part of its Regulating Our Future programme to change the process of food business registration, make changes to the application of the Food Establishment Intervention Rating Scheme, and recognise national inspection strategies.
The Mayor of London has launched on their draft Food Strategy. The strategy sets out the Mayor’s priorities and commitments on promoting good food at home, good food shopping and eating out, and good food for the environment.
The Scottish Government have launched a consultation on their proposals to integrate the system for Healthy Start Vouchers and the Sure Start Maternity Grant into a new combined system – the Best Start Grant.
If you would like more information on the submission, please contact julie.byers@acs.org.uk
The Committee of Advertising Practice has launched a consultation on introducing new rules on the advertising to children of food and soft drink products in non-broadcast media, including online.
Their proposals include:
The Food Standards Agency is seeking views on the initial draft of an IA exploring the costs and benefits of introducing the legislation that would be necessary to make the display of ratings at food outlets in England mandatory.
The background sections of the IA outline the rationale for putting the FHRS on a statutory footing in England and summarise the evidence that they have collected so far to inform the case for the Government’s consideration.
