2018 It's shaping up to be significant

17 September 2018

The challenge of poor diet and obesity is not new. We have been talking about it a long time but we have not yet managed to turn it around.  2018 may just be the year that words finally become action. 

In the summer two new and important publications were issued. The UK Government’s Childhood Obesity Plan Chapter 2 and the Scottish Government’s Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan.  Within these documents we see significant commitments on tackling in-store promotions, TV advertising and energy drinks.

The autumn/winter is promising to be a hive of activity with the following consultations expected:

 UK Government

  • Making energy drinks an age-restricted product
  • Restriction of in-store promotions (price and placement) of goods high in fat, sugar and salt
  • Out-of-home calorie labelling on menus
  • The introduction of a 9pm watershed for TV advertising of foods high in fat, sugar or salt and similar protection for children viewing adverts online

Scottish Government

  • Making energy drinks an age-restricted product
  • Restriction of in-store promotions (price and placement) of goods high in fat, sugar and salt
  • A Scottish out of home strategy to improve practice in this sector