Nothing wrong with sweets says health minister
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- Published: Thursday, 25 July 2013 07:50
- Written by News Editor
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She has previously said retailers have a responsibility to help people eat healthily, criticising shop layouts which arrange sweets and chocolate in front of checkouts. But she now said it was up to individuals “to lead healthy lives”, after it emerged that Department of Health officials have been discussing plans for a new industry code, including a ban on so-called ‘guilt lanes’.
Ms Soubry accused critics of the ‘guilt lanes’ of talking “nonsense”. She said: “It’s up to us as individuals to lead healthy lives. There’s a responsibility that the supermarkets have, but it’s important for us to take the industry with us, rather than impose things on them.”
Under a new industry code of practice being drawn up by the Department of Health, stores will be urged to put an end to cheap deals on fatty products, stop funnelling shoppers past rows of unhealthy foods, and spend a fixed amount from their marketing budgets on lower-calorie foods. Ms Soubry attacked critics of supermarkets. "Guilt lanes is a horrible, horrible expression”, she said, “I dislike it intensely - the idea that if you treat yourself you should feel guilty. It's absolute nonsense.
“I just said no to my children,” she continued “I didn't particularly feel pressured. I can understand that some people find it difficult, particularly when it is aimed at children. But there's nothing wrong with sweets. We just want people to put them in sensible balanced diets - and it's not the job of government to tell supermarkets where to put their shelves."
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