Sweets at the checkout – action needed
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- Published: Wednesday, 21 November 2018 08:00
- Written by News Editor
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The Obesity Health Alliance have carried out research on where supermarkets place products, which shows wide variation between them. The Alliance is calling on the Government to restrict the placement of unhealthy food and drinks in high profile locations in these stores to help families make healthier choices when shopping.
The report says that the location of unhealthy food and drinks in convenient or busy locations in shops can encourage shoppers to buy more of those products. The Obesity Health Alliance visited five supermarkets to survey the types of food and drink products that are promoted in prominent locations in-store. Products were included in the analysis if they contribute significantly to children’s sugar and calorie intake.
They found that 43% of all food and drink products located in prominent areas, such as store entrances, checkout areas, aisle ends or free-standing display units were for sugary foods and drinks.
Three of the five supermarkets surveyed had sugary food and/ or drinks located at checkout areas. Asda: 73% of food and drink products located at checkouts were sugary foods and/or drinks; Morrisons: 47%; Aldi: 30%. It was also found that 70% of all food and drink products located in prominent areas were for food and drinks that contribute significantly to children’s sugar and calorie intake.
The extent of sugary food and drinks located in prominent areas is concerning, with 43% of the food and drinks promoted in prominent locations being products that contribute the most to children’s sugar intake. Combined with the lack of fruit and vegetables promoted in prominent locations, this shows how the retail promotional environment does not align with healthy eating guidelines and makes it harder for families to make healthy choices when shopping.
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