In Europa is Groot-Brittannië het land met de omvangrijkste obesitasproblematiek. Meer dan 60% van de volwassenen en een derde van de 10- en 11-jarigen zijn te zwaar of obees. Een te grote calorie-inname wordt gezien als de belangrijkste oorzaak hiervan. In de Responsibility Deal nemen producenten, retailers en ook cateraars hun verantwoordelijkheid door het verkleinen van porties en het actief promoten van gezondere keuzes.

Het persbericht van het Department of Health toont een greep uit de voorgestelde maatregelen:

- Asda will develop a new reduced calorie brand across a wide range of products that will contain at least 30 per cent fewer calories than their core Chosen by you brand;
- Coca-Cola Great Britain will reduce the calories in some of its soft drinks brands by at least 30 per cent by 2014;
- Mars will cap the calories of their chocolate items to 250 calories per portion by the end of 2013;
- Morrisons will launch a range of healthier products developed by their chefs and nutritionists. More than 300 lines will be introduced, including low calorie and high fibre offerings. Key to this range will be an easy to read and understand labelling system;
- Premier Foods, manufacturers of brands including Ambrosia, Batchelors, Hovis, Loyd Grossman, Mr.Kipling, and Sharwood’s, will reduce calories in one third of their sales by the end of 2014 and at least 30 per cent of new products will be lower calorie choices;
- The Subway brand has committed to offer five out of their nine Low Fat Range Subs, each with fewer than 370 calories, as part of their £3 lunch offer; and
- Tesco is on track to remove 1.8 billion calories from its soft drinks, will expand its Eat, Live and Enjoy range of low-calorie meals and is making it easier for shoppers to spot low-calorie options through its “Green Ping” labels.

Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, said: “This pledge is just the start of what must be a bigger, broader commitment from the food industry. But it is a great step in the right direction and will help million of us eat and drink fewer calories.”


Britse instanties tonen zich verheugd over de Deal en onderstrepen het belang van deze eerste stap.

Fotocredits: colros
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