Food industry challenged to cut calories 20 per cent by 2024
Pizza manufacturers are a key target for the government’s campaign
Food manufacturers and restaurants have been called on to reduce the amount of calories in food products by a fifth over the next six years.
As part of a new Public Health England campaign to fight national obesity levels, the food industry has been challenged to cut calories in products consumed by families.
The national health body has sharpened its focus on the country’s food intake after new evidence revealed many young boys and girls consumed up to 500 and 290 excess calories respectively every day.
Meanwhile, the NHS spends around 6bn each year treating obesity-related conditions, while similar health problems could stifle economic productivity.
To bring calorie intake down and meet its target, the food industry was given three key strategies.
Lower calorie recipes
Reduced portion size
Encouraging consumers to purchase lower calories products
Pizzas, ready meals and ready-made sandwiches are among the products targeted by the campaign.
If the food industry meets the 20 per cent target, the government claimed over 35, 000 premature deaths could be prevented, with the NHS saving 9bn in health and social care costs over the a 25-year period.
Commenting on the food industry’s new target, Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Public Health England, said: The simple truth is on average we need to eat less. Children and adults routinely eat too many calories and it’s why so many are overweight or obese.
industry can help families by finding innovative ways to lower the calories in the food we all enjoy and promoting UK business leadership on the world stage in tackling obesity.
__________________________________________________________________________________ Sugar tax adds to anxiety for food and drink manufacturersThe so-called ‘sugar tax? will see drinks with over five grams of sugar per 100ml taxed by 18p per litre, while drinks with over eight grams per 100ml will be taxed 24p in the litre.
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Public Health England said it based the 20 per cent reduction on analysis of new calorie consumption data and prior experience of sugar and salt reduction programmes.
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Pizza manufacturers are a key target for the government’s campaign
Sugar tax adds to anxiety for food and drink manufacturers
The so-called ‘sugar tax? will see drinks with over five grams of sugar per 100ml taxed by 18p per litre, while drinks with over eight grams per 100ml will be taxed 24p in the litre.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Public Health England said it based the 20 per cent reduction on analysis of new calorie consumption data and prior experience of sugar and salt reduction programmes.
