New obesity plan falls short

Government publishes updated Obesity Plan, but action on school food falls short

Today, Monday 25 June 2018, the Government published Chapter 2 of their Childhood Obesity Plan. Chapter 1 was widely criticised for being too weak when it was launched two years ago. 

The revised Plan includes new Government proposals to halve childhood obesity in England by 2030.

Other measures, which will open for consultation by the end of the year, include:

• Banning the sale of sweets and snacks at checkouts, shop entrances and in buy-one-get-one-free deals
• New restrictions on advertising unhealthy food to children on TV and online, which could include a pre-9pm ban
• Clear calorie labelling in restaurants, cafes and takeaways, to help families know what they are eating
• Ending the sale of energy drinks containing high levels of caffeine, to children

However, there are areas where the Plan falls short, including in its actions related to school food.

Rob Percival, Food for Life Policy and Campaigns Manager commented:

“The Government is rightly getting credit for bold new policies on junk food marketing but they appear to have got away with hiding their School Report. Two years on from the first Obesity Plan the Government is yet to implement any of the actions that relate to school food. This updated Plan leaves us none the wiser as to when the Healthy Rating Scheme will be developed, what Ofsted’s role will be in relation to the Scheme, and whether the Secretary of State is going to lead to a campaign encouraging all academy schools to meet the School Food Standards. 

It is also nonsensical that Government is pressing ahead with public health budget cuts, even as it aspires to tackle rising obesity rates. We are concerned that the Plan will fail to deliver unless a more joined-up-approach is taken. We welcome Ofsted’s research into a healthy Early Years curriculum, but the Government should also ensure that Early Years settings are properly funded – the 30 hours childcare policy is a wrecking ball that is devastating the ability of the sector to serve healthy food.

The Government must also recognise that healthy eating is about more than cutting calories and sugar. Reformulation programmes are part of the puzzle, but we all – and children in particular – need nourishment, not just a healthy weight. What we do eat counts as much as what we don’t, for both our mental and physical health, so let’s not pretend that diet drinks and artificially sweetened 0% fat yoghurts represent any kind of answer. The UK already eats four times more processed food than fresh. Where are the policies that help us rediscover the joy of real, fresh, unprocessed food, eaten around a table together?

What matters now is implementation and joined-up thinking. The Government must urgently publish an implementation timeline and provide reassurance that this Plan will form part of a broader food strategy that aims to make it normal, easy and enjoyable for all families in Britain to eat well.”