Parents fill trolleys with junk food thanks to multi-buy offers

Parents are being persuaded to fill their shopping trolleys with bargain-buy junk food, new research by Cancer Research UK has found.

Research has found that parents are buying junk food because it is on offer. Picture: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images

A survey commissioned by the charity asked how multi-buy offers that are high in sugar, salt or fat influenced Scots’ shopping habits.

Researchers found 89 per cent of parents believed supermarket promotions affected what they buy.

Meanwhile, almost 57 per cent of parents said promotions lead them to buy more junk food than they really want.

The survey also revealed 71 per cent think too much junk food is on promotion in supermarkets. Around three-quarters of parents would like to see that balance shifted towards healthier items.

Professor Linda Bauld of Cancer Research UK, who is based at the University of Stirling, said: “These offers are persuading parents to ignore their shopping lists and buy cheap unhealthy food in large quantities.

“And if that junk food sits in our kitchen cupboards, we’re tempted to keep reaching for it, even if it’s been bought as a treat. The consequence of this fatty and sugary food can be seen on growing waistlines across Scotland.”

Multi-buy offers, the charity said, could affect what type of foods parents are feeding their families. It said they have also led to a rise in obesity and are linked to 13 different types of cancer, prompting calls for action from the Scottish Government when it publishes its obesity strategy later this year.

The Cancer Research UK poll, conducted by Survation, questioned 1,037 Scottish adults in June 2017 about their attitudes towards buying junk food.

It also found 78 per cent of parents had bought either food or drink that was on a multi-buy offer in the last month.

Mother-of-three Susan Shaw, 61, of Edinburgh said: “I think we would all welcome a nudge in the right direction and if the Scottish Government banned the sale of unhealthy food at cheap prices we’d all get on a lot better.

“If the offers were instead focused on fruit and veg, good quality meat, fish, as well as healthy snacks, people would be encouraged to eat better because these items would be available at a good price.”

Prof Bauld called on the Scottish Government to urgently restrict supermarket multi-buy offers and promotions on unhealthy food.

She added: “As part of its expected obesity strategy, the Scottish Government has an opportunity to help families make it easier to keep a healthy weight.

“By restricting special offers on unhealthy food and drink, we can make our shopping baskets healthier.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “Tackling obesity is a top priority for this government and we will consult on our new diet and obesity strategy this year.

“We are absolutely committed to reducing the deeply ingrained health inequalities which persist in Scotland and it is important we take the time to get our approach right, taking into account the views of a wide range of stakeholders.

“We continue to engage with the food and drink industry on action to offer healthier choices, including rebalancing promotions and reducing added sugar.”