​House of Lords Proposes Bold Measures to Tackle UK Obesity Epidemic

In response to the growing obesity crisis in the UK, a cross-party House of Lords committee has proposed stricter regulations targeting food and drink companies. The recommendations focus on enforcing compliance with rules to reduce the sales of unhealthy food, urging the government to take immediate action. The committee argues that businesses should face financial penalties for non-compliance with health targets, describing obesity and diet-related diseases as a "public health emergency."

Karen Betts highlights the need for regulatory certainty to continue industry progress on healthier food options.

The Lords' Food, Diet, and Obesity Committee's latest report calls for a shift away from policies centred on individual responsibility, advocating instead for robust regulation. It recommends a blanket ban on junk food advertising, increases to the existing sugar tax, and new levies on products high in sugar and salt.

The committee's report urges the government to acknowledge the severity of the obesity problem in the UK. It describes obesity and diet-related diseases as a crisis requiring decisive action. "Turning the tide and ending this emergency is a huge challenge, but it is not insuperable," the report states, emphasising the urgency of building a healthier food system. "We must seize the opportunity now to build a food system that enables us all to live healthy lives, protects the NHS, and better ensures the nation's prosperity."

Key proposals include updating the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL), which has been in place since 2018. The committee suggests lowering the threshold for the sugar content taxed, as well as extending the levy to sugary milk-based drinks by 2026. A new tax on salt and sugar reformulation is recommended, targeting products not currently covered by the SDIL.

A critical aspect of the committee's recommendations is the introduction of mandatory reporting for large businesses. Companies with more than 250 employees would be required to report on the healthiness of their food sales, with targets set for reductions in salt, sugar, and calories. Penalties for failing to meet these targets would be enforced before the end of this parliamentary term.

In an effort to further reduce the impact of unhealthy food, the committee proposes a total ban on advertising food and drinks high in fat, salt, or sugar (HFSS). This ban would apply across all media by the end of the current parliament. "There needs to be a total ban across all media on advertising both HFSS food and drink and by businesses that fail to reach healthy sales targets," the report said.

The report has drawn both support and concern from various sectors. Health experts welcomed the recommendations, with Dr Aisling Daly from Oxford Brookes University noting, "Although welcomed, approaches for food reformulation and banning advertising may be challenging given the conflict between food businesses' need for profit over improving population health." Dr. Nerys Astbury from the University of Oxford added that immediate, specific, and measurable actions are necessary to reduce obesity and diet-related diseases.

Kate Nicholls voices concerns over industry exclusion from obesity policy discussions.

On the other hand, representatives from the food and drink industry have expressed caution. Karen Betts, Chief Executive of the Food and Drink Federation, highlighted the progress already made by manufacturers. "UK shopping baskets now contain far fewer calories and less salt and sugar than they did in the past. To continue with this, the industry needs regulatory certainty," she said. Betts also pointed to the need for further research on ultra-processed foods, stating that the industry is ready to act quickly if new evidence emerges.

Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, expressed concern over the exclusion of industry representatives from policy discussions. "The committee's recommendation to exclude, under certain circumstances, food businesses and the trade associations that represent them from discussions about food, diet and obesity policy is concerning," Nicholls said. "It would eliminate a key partner that is, ultimately, responsible for delivering the committee's ambition to deliver a better food system." She also highlighted the importance of continued engagement between the government and the hospitality sector, adding: "I'm pleased the government has already engaged with the hospitality sector about its plans, and I would urge it to continue this engagement, recognising the key partner we are to deliver its aims."

A spokesperson for the Department of Health acknowledged the growing cost of obesity on both the NHS and the broader economy. "This Government is committed to urgently tackling this issue head-on, shifting our focus from treatment to prevention as part of our 10-Year Health Plan, to ease the strain on our NHS and help people to live well for longer,"they said. Recent government measures include restricting junk food advertising and banning the sale of energy drinks to children under 16.

Dr. Nerys Astbury emphasises the need for immediate, specific, and measurable actions to combat obesity.

The committee's report urges further legislative action, stressing that fines for non-compliance should be introduced as soon as possible. It also calls for closer scrutiny of school food standards, proposing additional support for schools to source healthier options.

While public health experts have broadly welcomed the recommendations, the proposals will likely face resistance from parts of the food and drink industry, raising concerns about the new regulations' practicalities. The balance between public health objectives and industry interests will be central to the debate as the government considers its next steps.

The question now is whether the UK is ready to take these bold steps to combat obesity, or if resistance from the food industry will slow progress. As the Lords' report warns, decisive action is needed sooner rather than later to address the escalating public health crisis.