A decision to delay a ban on buy-one-get-one-free (BOGOF) offers on unhealthy foods has been slammed by health campaigners.
The Government has confirmed that the planned move to stop multi-pack promotions on food and drinks which are high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) has been pushed back a year to October 2023. Along with this, a ban on TV adverts for these products before the 9pm watershed has also been delayed by 12 months and will now come into effect in January 2024.
Ministers have delayed the ban in order to review the impact it has on household finances and the cost-of-living crisis. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) says it remains determined to introduce the bans at the later dates, although restrictions on the placement of less healthy products in supermarkets will still come into effect in October this year.
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However, the move has been overwhelmingly criticised by campaigners and opposition politicians. Many have said the Government should be speeding up the process of getting the bans introduced.
Barbara Crowther, of the Children’s Food Campaign, said: “Obesity is spiking and millions of families can’t afford to put proper food on the table. Multi-buy offers make people spend more on junk, and less on healthy food. This delay threatens the UK target to halve childhood obesity by 2030. Boris is playing politics with our children’s health.”
Medical professionals have also slammed the delays. Graham MacGregor, professor of cardiovascular medicine at Queen Mary University of London and chairman of Action on Sugar and Action on Salt, said it went against the Government's “levelling up” agenda.
He said: “Boris Johnson could have left a legacy of being the first Prime Minister to address obesity in a meaningful way, particularly in restricting advertising and promotion of unhealthy food which were his flagship policies. Instead, he has given in to his own MPs, and an aggressive food industry, who, ironically, were starting to comply with these new policies.”
Labour also blasted the move. The party has gone as far as saying the Prime Minister is putting children's health at risk in favour of his own reputation.
Shadow public health minister Andrew Gwynne said: “Boris Johnson’s desperation to cling onto his job means the ideology of Conservative MPs is being placed above children’s health. Instead of cutting childhood obesity, preventing ill-health and easing pressure on the NHS, this chaotic government is performing another U-turn.”
Speaking on behalf of the DHSC, Public Health Minister Maggie Throup said: “We’re committed to doing everything we can to help people live healthier lives. Pausing restrictions on deals like buy one get one free will allow us to understand its impact on consumers in light of an unprecedented global economic situation.”
A law on calorie labelling in larger restaurants, cafes and takeaway services was introduced.
