Food agency asks firms to cut fat, sugar and the size of portions

Published on Tuesday 28 July 2009 22:01

PLANS to ask food manufacturers to reduce the amount of fat and sugar in their products, along with portion sizes, were put to the industry yesterday.

The proposals by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Scotland also advocate the increased availability of smaller, single-portion sizes in a number of key foods, including biscuits, cakes, pastries, buns, chocolate confectionery and soft drinks. Manufacturers and supermarkets will be encouraged to increase the proportion of their marketing budgets that are allocated to healthier food options.

Jim Thomson, the assistant director at the FSA in Scotland, said:

"What we are not doing is telling people what to eat. What we want to do is to make it easier for people to make healthier choices – to choose foods with reduced saturated fat and sugar – or smaller portion sizes."

A spokeswoman for the agency said: "The agency's work to encourage industry to reformulate and reduce portion sizes will focus on those foods that will help to deliver real benefits on public health.

"We are also asking industry to make reductions prioritising their biggest-selling products for maximum impact.

"The first phase of this work will focus on various sweet foods and treats. Later in the year, there will be further consultation on dairy and meat products and savoury snacks."

Earlier this year, the FSA published its saturated fat and energy intake programme which outlined a range of measures needed to help consumers to reduce saturated fat in their diet and balance the amount of calories they consume with their needs.

These included the need to improve consumer awareness and understanding of healthy eating, with particular focus on the impact of saturated fat on health, and to encourage the promotion and uptake of healthier eating options.