Aldi, Tesco and Sainsbury's set to introduce major change to store layouts amid obesity crackdown
The Government plans to introduce a health food standard for supermarkets to make the average shopping basket 'slightly healthier' and ease pressure on the NHS.
Public health experts say that cutting 50 calories a day would lift 340,000 children and 2 million adults out of obesity, which is one of the root causes of diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Major supermarkets will have to report on healthy food sales and 'increase the healthiness of sales in communities across the UK', according to the Department of Health and Social Care.
This means that they may have to reformulate products, change the layout of stores, offer discounts on healthy foods, or change loyalty schemes to promote healthier options.
Wes Streeting, health and social care secretary said: 'Our brilliant supermarkets already do so much work for our communities and are trying to make their stores healthier, and we want to work with them and other businesses to create a level playing field.
'Through our new healthy food standard, we will make the healthy choice the easy choice, because prevention is better than cure.'
He told Sky News that the plans were not 'nanny statism' but a 'world-first approach'.
The health department said that many supermarkets 'want to do more to make the average shopping basket healthier, but they risk changes hitting their bottom lines if their competitors don't act at the same time.
'The new standard will introduce a level playing field, so there isn't a first mover disadvantage.'
It is the latest attempt by central government to push supermarkets into promoting healthy food.
In 2022, supermarkets were banned from displaying products high in fat, salt and sugar in shop entrances and till areas.
A ban on junk food adverts targeting children, which was due to be introduced in October, is set to be delayed until next year.
Research by Which? Shows that three in five consumers said they support the Government introduced health targets for supermarkets.
Some of the UK's biggest supermarkets have welcomed the announcement
Ken Murphy, Tesco chief executive, said the supermarket giant had called for 'mandatory reporting for all supermarkets and major food businesses and why we welcome the Government's announcement on this.
'We look forward to working with them on the detail of the Healthy Food Standard and its implementation by all relevant food businesses.'
Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury's added: '[The] announcement from Government is an important and positive step forward in helping the nation to eat well.
'We need a level playing field across the entirety of our food sector for these actions to have a real and lasting impact.'
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