Recommendation 5

HM Government Not Addressed

Obesity is a complex problem caused by many different factors to which there is no single solution. It is a leading cause of serious diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, some cancers7 and is associated with poorer mental health.8 It also increases the risk of serious illness and death from Covid-19.9 This represents a huge cost to the health and wellbeing of the individual, the NHS and the wider economy. Data shows 6 in 10 adults and more than 1 in 3 children aged 10 to 11 years old overweight or living with obesity.10 Obesity prevalence is highest amongst the most deprived groups in society. Children in the most deprived parts of the country are more than twice as likely to be obese as their peers living in the richest areas.11 This is sowing the seeds of adult diseases and health inequalities in early childhood. As a country we consume too many calories, as well as too much sugar, saturated fat and salt. We know that regular overconsumption of a relatively small number of calories leads to individuals becoming overweight or obese. We are determined to tackle the problem of obesity across all ages, with an increased focus on prevention to help reduce the health risks that being overweight or living with obesity brings. We published “Tackling obesity: empowering adults and children to live healthier lives” in July 2020.12 The strategy demonstrates an overarching campaign to reduce obesity, takes forward actions from previous chapters of the childhood obesity plan, including our ambition to halve the number of children living with obesity by 2030, and sets out measures to get the nation fit and healthy, protect against Covid-19 and protect the NHS. It is likely that eating out frequently, including eating takeaway meals, contributes to the gradual overconsumption of calories. Research suggests that eating out accounts for 20–25% of adult energy intake,13 and that when someone dines out or eats a takeaway meal they consume, on average, 200 more calories per day than if they eat food prepared at home.14 Data also tells us that portions of food or drink that people eat out or eat as takeaway meals contain, on average, twice as many calories as equivalent retailer own-brand or manufacturer-branded products.15 Eating out or getting a takeaway is common; surveys tell us that 96% of people eat out and 43% do so at least once or twice a week.16 Research also suggests that people are eating out more often; in 2014, 75% of people said they had eaten out or bough takeaway food in the past week, compared to 69% in 2010.17 Consumption of fast food and takeaways is particularly prevalent among families, as evidence from 2016 showed that 68% of households with children under 16 had eaten takeaways in the last month, compared with only 49% of adult-only households.18 However, it is often difficult for customers to make informed, healthier choices when they do not have access to basic nutritional information, such as the calorie content of the food they are purchasing. Customers are already accustomed to seeing calorie information on prepacked food items sold in supermarkets and other retailers and we are seeing strong demand for nutritional information in the out-of-home sector; 79% of respondents to a Public Health England survey said they think that menus should include the number of calories in food and drinks.19 Another survey from Diabetes UK showed that around 60% of the public said that they would be more likely to eat at an establishment that offered calorie labelling on its menus.20 That is why, following consultation in 2018, we have introduced legislation to mandate calorie labelling for out-of-home food businesses, such as restaurants, cafes and takeaways, in England. The Government has decided that in the first instance, calorie labelling should only be mandatory for large businesses with 250 or more employees. We have published a regulatory impact assessment which sets out the impact we expect the policy to have and evidence used to support our analysis.21 We have been careful to consider the views of a wide range of experts in response to our public consultations on this policy proposal. As a result of consultation feedback, we have decided to exempt schools from the requirement to display calorie information given concerns about exposing children to calorie information in school settings and eating disorders. Additionally, we have included within the Regulations a provision which permits businesses to provide a menu without calorie information at the express request of the customer. As a result, people who may find viewing calorie information more difficult may be able to avoid this information in certain situations when eating out. The Government is committed to review the policy within 5 years of its implementation and will use that evaluation to consider extending the requirement to include smaller businesses. Evaluation will consider the effectiveness and implementation of the policy and offi