Prevention and treatment package

Mandate data collection of sales and nutritional information for large businesses (in a data reporting framework such as the FDTP).

Implemented alone, this policy will not have an impact on obesity prevalence. Instead, the true value of this policy is realised when implemented as a precursor for other policies targeted at improving food industry practice. For example, transparent and industry-wide food data collection will be crucial to assess and monitor retailers against targets. Simply put, without mandatory data collection, more ambitious and impactful policies will not be possible.

Regulate large retailers to change their organisation-wide converted Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) score to ≥ 69 across their entire food product portfolio

As the major link between food producers and consumers, large retailers hold considerable power and influence over the whole food system. This headline policy, underpinned by mandatory reporting from the FDTP, would require large retailers to improve the healthiness of their offer through a mandatory target set at a level similar to those already achieved by today’s ‘best’ players. 

Extend access to pharmacological interventions by providing an extra £500 million per year of ring-fenced funding to provide increased access to NICE-recommended weight loss treatments (Liraglutide and Semaglutide)

Weight loss treatments have drastically improved in their effectiveness and are critical for helping people living with the most severe burdens of obesity today. However, these treatments alone will not address the systemic issues in our food environment that cause obesity, nor reduce the number of people seeking help for excess weight in the first place. That is why we only recommend this policy be implemented in addition to the other population-level prevention policies in our package. These novel treatments will only be truly transformative alongside sustained efforts to address obesogenic food environments.

Restrict advertising for HFSS products on TV, online and public transportation

Advertising is a key mechanism used by businesses to shift consumer preferences and increase sales. This is especially true for the food industry where tens of billions of pounds are spent yearly by businesses to advertise unhealthy products that contain excess calories. 

This policy would work to prevent population exposure to unhealthy food and drink advertising. This would reduce stimuli to purchase and consume these products from the food environment, thus improving diets. Importantly, the comprehensive restriction across all platforms would prevent companies from shifting their advertising budgets to alternative channels (ie, broadcast/online to billboards and other outdoor media), ensuring the policy’s effectiveness in reducing overall exposure to HFSS product advertising.

Ban all price promotions of discretionary foods for large out-of-home businesses (eg, restaurants, coffee shops, fast food outlets)

The out-of-home sector contributes an average of approximately 300 calories per person per day to our diets, with the average trip resulting in purchases of over 1,000 kcals. Despite its significant contribution, the sector needs more meaningful attention from policymakers. We believe that for progress to be made, there needs to be a level playing field across all sectors.

Restricting price promotions on discretionary foods is a well-evidenced policy which could start significantly improving the products that are consumed and offered by the out-of-home sector.

Enforce provision of front-of-pack labelling, similar to Nutri-Score, on retail packaging

While it is mandatory for nutritional information to be displayed on the back of all food packaging in the UK, there currently isn’t any mandatory front-of-pack labelling in the UK, including in Scotland or Wales. This policy would mandate the provision of front-of-pack labelling, similar to Nutri-Score, on retail packaging. The aim of labelling is to influence consumers at the point of purchase to choose food products with a better nutritional profile and to incentivise food manufacturers to improve the nutritional quality of products.

Restrict ‘location’ promotions of HFSS food and drink on food/drink delivery platforms

The out-of-home sector contributes an average of approximately 300 calories per person per day to our diets, with many businesses increasingly selling to consumers through online delivery apps. We believe that for progress to be made, there needs to be a level playing field across all sectors, with third-party delivery businesses playing a part. 

Similar to the restriction of HFSS products in retail settings but targeting a different part of the food system, this policy would prevent delivery apps from prominently displaying unhealthy products. This would reduce the likelihood of impulse purchases and ultimately improve the healthiness of diets.

(Scotland and Wales only) Restrict location promotions of HFSS products in large retailers

This policy restricts the positioning of HFSS products in prominent locations within stores, such as the checkout, end-of-aisle, and entrance. Restrictions on the positioning of HFSS products have been in force in England since October 2022, however, they have not yet been implemented in Wales or Scotland. A consultation for this policy was published in Wales in June 2024, with plans to seek approval from the Welsh Parliament by the end of 2024. In Scotland, consultation for this policy closed in May 2024 with decisions due within the 2024/25 Scottish Parliamentary session.