Supermarkets Face Fines if They Don’t Meet New Healthy Food Standards

Great Britain has declared war on the obese, as the government is forcing supermarkets to reduce calories in the shopping basket, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

The tough measures come at a time of emergency over obesity that is burdening the national health service.

Under the new provisions, included in a 10-year plan to improve the health of Britons and to be made public this week, supermarkets will have to eliminate up to 100 calories from the average shopping basket, reducing sales of sweet and salty foods and increasing those of healthy foods.

Large distribution chains will have to report on food sold, and those who fail to meet set targets could face fines.

"Through our new healthy food standard, we will make the healthy choice the easier choice, because prevention is better than cure," said Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

The minister stressed that obesity in Britain has doubled since the 1990s and now costs the NHS a staggering £11 billion a year (around €13 billion), which is three times the cost of ambulances.

"If we don't reduce rising costs and demand, the NHS risks becoming unsustainable," Streeting said.

The UK has the third highest obesity rate in Europe (the highest among large countries) and sees a third of the population obese, with another third overweight: a veritable epidemic that is a leading cause of diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

According to the British government, reducing the diet by just 50 calories a day would be enough to lift two million adults and 340 children out of obesity, although these figures have been questioned by some experts, who have highlighted the role of other factors, such as a sedentary lifestyle.

Mandatory nutritional targets will encourage retailers to make it easier for people to consume a balanced diet and live a healthier life.