Public health officials crack down on calorie intake

Public health officials have taken major steps to cut people’s excessive calorie intake, with food manufacturers and sellers told to cut calories in their products by 20 per cent by 2024.

If the target is met within five years, more than 35,000 premature deaths could be prevented and around £9 billion in NHS healthcare and social care costs could be saved over a 25-year period.

Unveiled by Public Health England (PHE) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), big business could face being named and shamed if they fail to comply to the new standards.

“The simple truth is on average we need to eat less. Children and adults routinely eat too many calories and it’s why so many are overweight or obese,” said Duncan Selbie, chief executive of PHE.

“Industry can help families by finding innovative ways to lower the calories in the food we all enjoy and promoting UK business leadership on the world stage in tackling obesity.”

The 20 per cent reduction target is the result of analysis of the new calorie consumption data, experience of sugar and salt reduction programmes, and more than 20 meetings with the food industry and stakeholders.

The next step in the programme involves engagement with the whole food industry such as retailers, manufacturers, major restaurant, café, takeaway, and delivery companies, and health and charity sectors, to develop category guidelines.

Steve Brine MP, Public Health and Social Care Minister, added: “We have a responsibility to act, which is why we are supporting families to make the healthy choice.

“Our calorie reduction programme – the first of its kind from any country in the world – will continue to build on the progress of our world-leading childhood obesity plan, which has led to positive steps by industry.”