News article
24 July 2020
The Food and Drink Federation responds to speculation around forthcoming UK Government proposals on obesity
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The FDF has issued the following press release:
Responding to speculation around forthcoming UK Government proposals on obesity,
Tim
Rycroft, Chief Operating Officer at the Food and Drink Federation said:
“If the rumours are true, then this will come as a slap in the face to the UK's
food and drink
manufacturers and the half a million people we employ, so recently the heroes
heralded by government
for feeding the nation during the Covid crisis.
“With household budgets more stretched than ever before, restrictions on
promotions and
advertising will increase the price of food, reduce consumer choice and
threaten
jobs and investment
across the UK at a precarious economic time.
“The proposals are illogical, flying in the face of the government's own
reformulation
programmes. We could see a ban on promotions of food such as mustard and mint
sauce, days before
the launch of the Chancellor's 'Eat Out to Help Out' campaign. Already
hard-pressed shoppers can
expect to see their weekly shop become more expensive, at an average cost of
£600 per family. We
could have the Great British Bake Off with no cake adverts allowed. It will
place enormous cost on
broadcasters, while manufacturers who have done so much to bring new healthier
options to market will
now find they have no way of bringing these to shoppers' attention.”
More Information
Contact Megan Bevan, Corporate Affairs Division, at: Megan.Bevan@fdf.org.uk, or 07946 340 998.
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