19
Accepted
Require mandatory public health metrics reporting and urgent research on ultra-processed foods
Conclusion
The Government has set out three actions that could help encourage healthier eating. On mandatory public reporting against a set of health metrics, this should become a requirement within the next six months. Further research on ultra-processed foods as a contributor to over consumption of higher calorie foods should commence at once and at pace, with the findings reported to the Committee within 12 months of the publication of this Report.
Government Response Summary
The government described its existing "Better Health" campaign, which launched in July 2020, along with existing tools and regulations like voluntary front-of-pack labelling, calorie labelling, and a pilot rewards app, as efforts to encourage healthier eating, but did not commit to mandatory public reporting on health metrics or specific research on ultra-processed foods.
Paragraph Reference
79
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Better Health campaign was launched in July 2020 to help support people look after their mental and physical health. Whether they’re looking to lose weight, eat better, get more active, look after their mental wellbeing and quit smoking, by providing free tools and resources. Better Health campaigns encourage positive changes and direct to free evidence-based apps and tools to support people to make and sustain changes to improve their health, including the NHS Weight Loss app, Couch to 5K and Active 10. Since Summer 2020, over 12 million positive actions have been taken a result of Better Health adult obesity campaigns, which includes downloads of the NHS weight loss app, self-reported actions to make healthy lifestyle changes such as eating more healthily and increasing physical activity, and sign-ups to partnership offers on the Better Health website6. We are also supporting consumers to make healthier choices through the voluntary front of pack nutritional label7, which communicates complex nutritional information, including sugar, salt, fat and saturated fat content, to shoppers in a way they find helpful and easy to understand, and out of home calorie labelling for food sold in large businesses including restaurants, cafes and takeaways8. Alongside these measures, the Government is testing a novel, innovative approach to supporting people to live healthier lives. In partnership with the City of Wolverhampton Council, we are piloting the free digital Better Health: Rewards app9, which launched in February 2023. Over 28,000 residents have registered on the app. The app offers financial incentives for completing weekly physical activity challenges (in line with CMOs’ guidelines10) and diet challenges (in line with the Eatwell Guide) to support people to make healthier choices. The pilot is expected to finish in October 2023, and we will evaluate its impact to inform our future approach towards tech-driven health behaviour change. 6 https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/ 7 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/front-of-pack-nutrition-labelling-guidance 8 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/calorie-labelling-in-the-out-of-home-sector 9 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-backs-new-scheme-to-improve-peoples-health-in- wolverhampton 10 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/832868/uk- chief-medical-officers-physical-activity-guidelines.pdf
Timeline
Recommendation age
2.8 yrs
Report published
28 Jul 2023