06 May 2020 The Obesity Health Alliance calls on supermarkets to help not only keep us fed, but keep us healthy too
Together with The Obesity Health Alliance, Food Active are asking supermarkets to focus their promotions on foods lower in fat, sugar & salt to help everyone be healthier
New polling data published today by the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA, of whom Food Active is a member) reveals several changes to eating habits. Starting with the good news first, 40% of people saying they were eating more fruit and vegetables and 50% of people reporting eating food cooked from scratch more often. These are positive figures indicate that conditions of the lockdown such as more time at home and fewer trips to the supermarkets has benefitted the diets of many people in some aspects. Now for the bad news – there has also been a rise in consumption of foods that tends to be high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS), such as confectionery, cakes and biscuits and savoury snacks. This is particularly true among younger people, aged 18-24. These categories of food all sit outside of Public Health England’s ‘Eat Well Guide’, meaning they do not contribute to our health and should be eaten infrequently.
The OHA recognises the important role supermarkets are playing in keeping us fed – but this new polling data suggests that supermarkets could play an important part in keeping us healthy too, by voluntarily reducing the number of promotions (by price and place) on food and drink high in fat, sugar and/or salt, instead shifting these to healthier food options – such as fruit and vegetables.
Read the OHA’s blog ‘The Role of Supermarkets in Keeping Us Healthy’ below to find out more about the data and calls to supermarkets and retailers.
The Role of Supermarkets in Keeping Us Healthy
