Scottish Government seeks views on junk food promotions in bid to tackle obesity
2 min readPromotions on junk food may be restricted in a bid to control obesity in Scotland, a consultation will take into account.
The Scottish Authorities is looking for views from the general public over options to prohibit the marketing of sweets, crisps and sugary beverages at checkouts as well as on multi-purchase special discounts.
Ministers consider constraints could support Scots with lousy diet programs make healthier selections.
The consultation, which operates right up until September 23, will assess the affect of the proposed restrictions on firms and community well being, as effectively as on Scots residing in poorer locations.
Minister for general public wellness Maree Todd stated: “Our diets stay too significant in energy, fat, sugar and salt which can have really serious effects for our all round health and fitness.
“In Scotland, two out of 3 grown ups are obese or overweight, with those residing in our poorest locations more most likely to be over weight and practical experience the most harm as a result.
“We know that promotions can motivate more than-usage and impulse purchasing.
“By proscribing the marketing of less nutritious food and consume we can better aid folks to make healthier possibilities and assistance build a Scotland where all people eats nicely and has a healthy bodyweight.”
Food items Criteria Scotland (FSS) have welcomed the launch of the consultation, with Dr Gillian Purdon including that promotions “can motivate us to purchase much more than we have to have, and never always save us money”.
The FSS head of diet science and coverage claimed: “Evidence demonstrates that a significant sum of the food and consume we acquire is on promotion, and is normally skewed in direction of fewer healthful selections this sort of as confectionery, sweet biscuits, savoury snacks, cakes, pastries, puddings and sugar made up of tender beverages.
“These meals account for all over 20% of calories and body fat in our eating plan, and extra than 50 % of our free sugar intake.
“Restricting promotions of these types of foodstuff is one way to assistance people to make healthier choices.”