In a preliminary response to the Scottish Government's
announcement of new restrictions on the promotion and marketing
of High Fat, Salt, and Sugar products, the Deputy Head of
the Scottish Retail Consortium, Ewan MacDonald-Russell,
said:
"Scotland's retailers are committed to helping consumers make
healthier choices. Fresh fruit and vegetables are heavily price
promoted and often the very first thing shoppers see when
entering food retailing stores. The availability of healthy snack
alternatives has risen considerably, and the quantity of fruits
and vegetables in products like sandwiches and ready meals has
increased. Our industry has led the way on reformulating products
to reduce salt, sugar, and fat from products. We've pioneered
traffic light labelling and clear energy information on products
and signage to help consumers understand products and make
informed choices.
"We nonetheless recognise regulatory interventions above and
beyond voluntary initiatives are necessary, and indeed when done
well, desirable. The Scottish Retail Consortium has been closely
consulted on the proposed measures to restrict the promotion and
marketing of high fat salt and sugar products. That process has
been taken forward in the spirit of collaboration as outlined in
the New Deal for Business with a genuine intent to balance the
health and economic impacts appropriately. The decision to focus
on restricting promotions for which there is strong evidence are
problematic, and to do so in a manner which supports the wider
regulatory framework across the UK, is very welcome.
“This announcement is a sensible compromise balancing the need
for a public health intervention with the economic impact.
There remain enormous challenges from the impact of diet
and obesity in Scotland. The best way to tackle those problems is
by government and industry working together to make Scotland a
healthier and wealthier nation."
