Liz Truss launches review of England’s anti-obesity strategy
Liz Truss has launched a review of England’s anti-obesity strategy as part of a wider deregulation initiative that the new prime minister hopes will kick-start economic growth.
Boris Johnson, her predecessor, unveiled a sweeping package of measures to curb the consumption of unhealthy food and drinks, although he retreated from several of his plans this year.
Under pressure from rightwing Tory MPs, Johnson delayed by a year certain proposals including a ban on buy-one-get-one-free deals and a prohibition of television adverts for unhealthy food and drinks before 9pm. They had been due to take effect next month.
But the Obesity Health Alliance, a campaign group seeking to reduce obesity, said it was “deeply concerned” about “reckless” plans to ditch the Johnson-era measures.
“This will not help the cost of living crisis in the short term, and in the long term would lead to serious consequences for our health, our economy and our NHS,” it added.
“Big multinational companies promote and advertise unhealthy food and drink to those on lower incomes, leading to increases in obesity, in inequalities, and in pressure on the NHS to treat the resulting poor health, such as cancers, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.”
This story originally appeared on: Financial Times - Author:Jim Pickard
