National Food Strategy is welcome, but new rules must be introduced with care, says ACS

Following the launch of the strategy this week, ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We are committed to playing our part in meeting the challenges outlined in the National Food Strategy.

“Convenience retailers are actively increasing fresh foods in their stores and changing their offer to meet consumer needs, and it is important that this continues given our reach into so many communities.

“Promoting the Healthy Start Scheme is one of the simplest and most effective ways for local shops to support healthy eating, and we encourage every store to do this.”

But Lowman added that the government needs to clarify its plans on tackling obesity before imposing further plans for a sugar and salt levy.

He said: “Our sector is already at the sharp end of a raft of regulatory interventions like restrictions on promotions and locating products in their stores that will be extremely costly.

“We now have two quite different mechanisms and the government should pause and bring together a coherent plan in its white paper.”

Retailers are currently waiting for confirmation of details on regulations regarding the location and promotion of high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products in store.

There is still uncertainty about the number of retailers that will be affected, with just months to go until the regulations come into force.

Recommendations made in the strategy include:

• A new “community eatwell” programme which would involve GPs prescribing fruit and veg to people on lower incomes
• Expanding the financial eligibility for Healthy Start vouchers
• A new tax set at £3/kg for sugar and £6/kg for salt sold wholesale for use in processed foods
• A requirement on all food companies with over 250 employees to publish an annual report on a wide range of metrics