The role of retail in public health

Question 1

What are the current nutritional challenges in the UK?

Answer 1

• too much sugar, kcal, saturated fat, salt
• not enough fruit & vegetables, fish or exercise
• the only dietary recommendation we are meeting is 35% fat

Question 2

Top considerations from consumers

Answer 2

• 81% range of healthy foods
• 74% ease of identifying sugar contents
• 72% have sustainable packaging
• 65% ease of identifying salt content

Question 3

Nutritional policies which need to be integrated into products

Answer 3

• increasing nutrients of concern
• salt and sugar reduction
• quantity and quality of fat
• reduction in calories and portion size
• taking into account national dietary recommendations (EatWell guide)

Question 4

Key dates for government obesity strategies

Answer 4

• August 2016: childhood obesity strategy
• February 2017: committee on childhood obesity
• March 2017: publication of sugar targets
• April 2018: sugar levy
• July 2020: new obesity paper published in light of COVID
• December 2020: restricting high fat, sugar, salt promotions

Question 5

How the UK has approached salt reduction

Answer 5

• taken over 10 years to drive down salt levels
• retail sector has done well, but hospitality industry has a way to go
• helping customers to adjust to lower salt levels slowly
• barriers still exist, such as food safety

Question 6

Childhood obesity strategy

Answer 6

• introduced in 2016
• 3 main levers to reduce: through reformulation, changed portion size, more promotions on reduced sugar options
• but by year 3 only a 3% reduction in obesity

Question 7

Soft drinks levy progress

Answer 7

• year 1: -11%
• year 2: -29%
• year 3: -43.7%

Question 8

Food industry and sugar reduction

Answer 8

• SACN recommend we should be eating <5% total daily energy intake
• the retailer could run reformulation programs to reduce sugar

Question 9

Food industry and fibre

Answer 9

• SACN recommend we should be eating >30g of fibre per day

- in waitrose they have stands with high fibre products with meal plans

Question 10

How retailers are helping in customer change

Answer 10

• Product offering: best tasting healthy foods
• Nudging towards better behaviour
• Be consistent with messaging
• Staying connected to the needs of the community
• Reformulation
• More responsible manufacturing processes
• Addressing nutrients of concern whilst still being affordable and tasty