Skip to main content

Choc bars told to slim down to meet obesity targets

| Supplier news

Chocolate bars in the UK are likely to shrink by a fifth in the next three years after health authorities told sweet manufacturers they could meet obesity targets by cutting product size.

Public Health England published new guidelines which call on food manufacturers to reduce the sugar content of cereals, breakfast goods, yoghurts, biscuits, ice creams, sweet spreads and confectionery by 20% by 2020.

The cuts are intended to reduce the number of obese children by the end of the decade and take 200,000 tons of sugar out of the British diet each year.

But the new guidance states that companies who do not want to reformulate ingredients can meet targets by simply cutting the size of their products.

PHE said chocolate firms may find reformulation difficult and that reducing size was probably the most sensible solution.

However, anti-obesity campaigners warned that without reformulation shoppers may be encouraged to buy two smaller chocolate bars.

Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, said: "Simply downsizing sugary food is not the answer.

"Of the four options given to the food industry to remove 20% sugar from their products, downsizing runs the real risk that people will buy two of whatever the product is and eat substantially more.

"The preferred option is to reformulate the product and replace sugar with other ingredients."

Although other experts praised the sugar reduction targets, they questioned whether manufacturers would actually meet the voluntary commitment if there were no sanctions for failing to comply.


Related Articles

Festive family fashion alert - Pick n Pay unvei...

Forget fugly clichéd holiday-themed jerseys: matching family pyjamas is the latest craze for the holidays and is flying off the shelves, says Pick n Pay Clothing.

Liberty Accelerates Unclaimed Benefits Pay Outs 

As part of its ongoing Unclaimed Benefits Funds tracing efforts, this year, Liberty has identified in excess of 13 000 people and paid over R105 million to members and beneficiaries who had a legitimate claim.

Shoprite and Checkers support small suppliers t...

Shoprite and Checkers are helping small suppliers grow their volumes this Black Friday as customers flock to its stores looking for value on everyday essentials and groceries between Thursday, 23 November and Sunday, 26 November 2023. 

Supermarket chain set to appeal judgment in ‘si...

By: Chevon Booysen - IOL Retail giant Pick n Pay has indicated its intention to appeal a Western Cape High Court judgment to damage all print works, all printed materials, product packaging, and the like bearing the infringing get-ups similar to ...

Woolies pulls Israeli couscous after 'credible'...

By: Ahmed Areff – Fin24 Woolworths has pulled Israeli-imported pearl couscous from its shelves, but has emphasised that the move was preemptive due to threats it received and not because it supported a boycott of the country’s products or was pro...