Scottish Government seeks views on junk food promotions in bid to tackle obesity

Promotions on junk food may possibly be limited in a bid to curb obesity in Scotland, a consultation will take into account. 

The Scottish Authorities is in search of views from the public around strategies to prohibit the promotion of sweets, crisps and sugary beverages at checkouts as perfectly as on multi-get discount rates. 

Ministers believe that limitations could enable Scots with bad diet plans make much healthier decisions. 

The consultation, which runs until eventually September 23, will evaluate the impression of the proposed constraints on organizations and general public well being, as well as on Scots residing in poorer regions.

Minister for public overall health Maree Todd stated: “Our diet programs continue being much too superior in calories, unwanted fat, sugar and salt which can have major consequences for our total wellness.

“In Scotland, two out of 3 older people are obese or overweight, with all those residing in our poorest regions far more very likely to be chubby and expertise the most hurt as a consequence.

“We know that promotions can encourage around-use and impulse getting.

“By proscribing the marketing of considerably less healthful food stuff and consume we can greater aid persons to make healthier decisions and assistance make a Scotland wherever everybody eats effectively and has a balanced weight.”

Food items Criteria Scotland (FSS) have welcomed the launch of the session, with Dr Gillian Purdon introducing that promotions “can encourage us to purchase far more than we want, and don’t automatically preserve us money”.

The FSS head of nourishment science and coverage reported: “Evidence exhibits that a considerable total of the food items and drink we acquire is on promotion, and is typically skewed in direction of much less healthy decisions these types of as confectionery, sweet biscuits, savoury treats, cakes, pastries, puddings and sugar that contains smooth beverages.

“These foods account for close to 20% of energy and fat in our diet regime, and far more than 50 percent of our absolutely free sugar intake.

“Restricting promotions of these types of foods is one way to support men and women to make much healthier selections.”