Health and Vitality

Plain packaging policy needed for unhealthy food and drink, says IPPR

Sweets, crisps and sugary drinks need to be put on a level playing-field with fruit and vegetables if the UK is to win the battle against preventable diseases, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research. The IPPR report, Ending the Blame Game: The case for a new approach to public health and prevention, identifies…

Shops within hospitals will not be permitted to sell energy drinks to anyone under the age of 16. The new restriction, which will apply to drinks with an added caffeine content of more than 150mg/litre, will also be matched by all NHS-run catering sites. The change is the latest update to the Healthcare Retail Standard,…

Healthy Eating Week reaches far and wide

Over 4,400 schools and nurseries, representing nearly two million children and young people, and 1,850 workplaces (or workplace teams), colleges and universities, representing over 800,000 adults, have registered to take part in this week’s British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) Healthy Eating Week 2019. The initiative aims to promote and celebrate healthy living by providing schools and…

Will a ‘dream’ to tax unhealthy food become a reality?

Given the nature of her public statements, the industry shouldn't be surprised if, in a review commissioned by the government, England's chief medical officer recommends the taxing of unhealthy foods, writes David Burrows. Health secretary Matt Hancock has commissioned England's chief medical officer (CMO) Professor Dame Sally Davies to “urgently review” what more can be…

48% of diners confused by labelling rules for allergens

Only 52% of diners looking for allergen information understand the labelling regulations, according to new research. When quizzed about the rules, 23% thought the labelling regulations for food that is freshly prepped and packaged in a food outlet for direct sale (PPDS) and food pre-packed offsite were the same; 25% were unsure whether the rules…

Sales of sugar-free drinks are up, whilst those with full sugar are in decline. What’s more, new sugar-free variants of popular drinks have gained distribution in major retailers. “The soft drinks industry levy is working,” wrote Jack Winkler and Tam Fry, emeritus professor of nutrition policy at London Metropolitan University and National Obesity Forum chair…

Stressed out hospitality workers wouldn’t recommend the sector

More than four out of five (84%) hospitality workers have reported increased stress, whilst 45% would not recommend working in the sector. The new research, “Service with(out) a smile”, published by the Royal Society for Public Health, also showed that 62% of respondents felt the industry doesn’t take of its employees. Only 10% had received…

Healthy eating rules must apply to all, says Greggs boss

Small businesses should not be exempt from any new laws to tackle obesity, according to Roger Whiteside, chief executive at Greggs. “The temptation with regulation is to hit the big guys but we [Greggs] are less than 2% of the market. If we regulate and it’s the big guys only, we just squeeze the balloon…

Chefs need mental health support, survey finds

More than eight in 10 people (81%) working in professional kitchens have experienced poor mental health during their careers, with 74% having called in sick due to stress. The survey of 102 chefs, conducted by Nestlé Professional, found that staff shortages (58%), lack of time (43%), limited budgets (42%) and limited access to daylight (41%)…

Will small firms be exempt from calorie labelling rules?

Businesses with fewer than 250 staff will be exempt from new rules to list calories on menus. “It isn’t about telling people what to eat, it’s about helping them make their own choices,” a government source told The Sun. “There’s a sensible balance to be struck. We can achieve it without unnecessarily impacting small business.”…