UK food system 'relentlessly' pushing us to unhealthy choices and we're 'set up to fail'

The UK's food environment is shaping our diets and 'setting us up to fail' - with the most affordable, convenient and appealing options often the unhealthiest, according to a new report

The UK's food system is "relentlessly" driving consumers towards unhealthy choices, warns the Food Foundation charity in its latest report.

The annual State of the Nation’s Food Industry report highlights that the food environment, including advertising, restaurant menus, and supermarket promotions, is influencing diets and "setting us up to fail". Citing 2022 research from the University of Liverpool, the report reveals that five companies – Haribo, Mars, Mondelez, PepsiCo, and Kellogg’s – are behind over 80% of pre-9pm TV ads for snacks and confectionery.

In a move to combat this, the Government has confirmed that from October 1 next year, junk food adverts will be banned before 9pm on TV, although restrictions already exist preventing such ads on children’s channels or during kids' programmes. The report also points out that nearly a third (30%) of major UK restaurant chains offer main meals with over half being high in salt, and almost one in five supermarket multibuy deals are on meat and dairy products, half of which are processed meats.

The Food Foundation criticises the "clear lack of accountability" within the food industry, noting that big players are not setting or reporting on health targets for their companies.

The report presents findings from the charity's Plating Up Progress research, which surveils 36 considerable UK food establishments' transparency in sharing data on targets promoting the sale of healthier and more sustainable eats.

It found that just one in four major UK food businesses disclose data on the healthiness of their sales, with restaurant chains and fast-food outlets the least transparent sector by some way, having made no progress since last year on setting targets to improve the healthiness of menus.

The Food Foundation stated that sector representatives and trade bodies have convened with DEFRA ministers an astounding 1,377 instances from 2020 to 2023 – eclipsing the engagements between food NGOs and government officials by over fortyfold.

The report is the culmination of extensive scrutiny of diverse data sources to piece together a portrait of Britain's food network. Last month, peers said companies should be fined for failing to follow rules aimed at cutting sales of unhealthy food to tackle the “public health emergency” posed by obesity.

They suggested enterprises be mandated to chronicle their headway toward sugar and salt reduction targets and face sanctions if they fall short. Amid these recommendations, the Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee underlined the urgency.

The charity is urging the Government to impose compulsory reporting by all large food businesses on the nourishment and sustainability of their sales.

Rebecca Tobi, from the Food Foundation, said: "This year’s State of the Nation’s Food Industry report demonstrates the huge impact food businesses have in shaping the food we eat – and how the current system is setting us up to fail. It’s not right that the most affordable, appealing and convenient options are often the unhealthiest ones.

'We urgently need the Government to introduce regulation to raise standards and create a level playing field that enables progressive businesses to go further, faster. If we are to have any chance of ensuring the next generation are the healthiest ever – as Labour have pledged – then we simply can’t continue to ignore the major role large food companies are playing in shaping UK diets.

"We need regulation to ensure proper safeguards are in place to make sure businesses act responsibly, supporting people and planet as well as profit."

Baroness Walmsley, chair of the Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee, said: "When people are swimming against a tide of availability and advertising of unhealthy food, it is not helpful to tell them to swim harder. This report shows just how far the industry needs to move to support everyone to eat well, and the calls to action repeat many of those in the Lords committee’s report.

"The Government should act now to develop a long-term strategy to fix our food system, underpinned by a new legislative framework."

Businesses will continue to promote unhealthy foods without incentives to act in the public interest, it has been claimed. A Food and Drink Federation (FDF) spokeswoman said: "Food and drink manufacturers take the issue of obesity and poor diets really seriously and know that we have a key role to play in addressing this."

"Companies have made significant progress to create healthier options for shoppers, based on Government guidelines and the high fat, salt and sugar regulations. Thanks to substantial investment, FDF members’ products now contribute far fewer calories, salt and sugar to the British grocery market than they did in 2015."

"Our industry adheres to all advertising rules, including those which restrict the advertising of less healthy food around children’s media. Companies are also preparing for further regulations that come into effect in October 2025."

"We’re calling for Government and regulators to move swiftly to publish the regulations and industry guidance so that we have sufficient time to prepare."

A spokeswoman for Mars said: "As the company behind some of the UK’s best-loved brands, we understand the responsibility we have to help our consumers enjoy our products as part of a healthy and balanced diet."

"A key part of this is our commitment to young people. Since launching our Responsible Marketing Code in 2007 we have ensured that all Mars marketing meets UK advertising requirements, as well as our own industry-leading Global Marketing standards."

"Our Q3 2022 audit results for UK TV show that we were 99.2% compliant with our audience threshold commitment. Through ongoing innovation and reformulation, we’re focused on offering a growing range of healthier and delicious options across our iconic brands."

"From our non-HFSS ‘Fruit & Nut’ range, high in fibre, fruit and nuts, to reduced salt content and increased fibre servings across our Food and Nutrition portfolio, we’re dedicated to helping people make responsible choices."