Restricting promotions on food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt

If the product has a high fat (saturated fat) sugar and salt profile with low nutritional 
value and is highly processed with artificial sweeteners, then it should be restricted 
and priced to discourage uptake. In doing so, it will also future proof compliance (so 
that manufacturers do not try to circumvent the legislation by claiming it is something else).

To make enforcement consistent, all foods in the abovementioned categories must be 
included, not just the 4 options provided. 

However, Renfrewshire Council firmly believes that incentivising healthy eating and 
providing affordable healthy food is extremely important at this time (Cost of Living 
Crisis) to ensure that restrictions don’t prevent people from being able to access and 
eat affordable food.

It is agreed that a model requires to be used to identify which products are higher in fat, sugar and salt i.e. where is the cut-off line for products?

However, it is extremely important to take the public with you so they understand why price and offers are changing. Again, it is important that they are incentivised to make healthier choices i.e. buy 1 XXX get a bag of apples free.

The traffic light system was previously used already but never became a legal requirement – consideration could be given to making this a bold statement to let people make informed choices.

Consumers are already aware of the traffic light system, and it has been well received by them. Consideration should be given to the promotion of this system and making it a legal requirement for manufacturers. Many consumers currently have limited knowledge of nutrient profiling and do not understand the process required to make confident positive choices. There needs to be clear “instructions” for people to decide and make healthier choices and the traffic light system could be the basis of this information.

Whilst appreciating the targeting of pre-packed foods, we must target the out of home environment more generally e.g. loose HFSS foods in, for example, bakery settings/ takeaway foods that are not prepacked are currently major calorie influencers and causes of obesity and poor nutrition.

Renfrewshire Council doesn’t agree that some businesses don’t have relevant nutritional information for individual items e.g. pain au chocolat. The legislation needs to stop businesses from being able to buy in bulk and then sell items individually or to use other approaches to circumvent restrictions i.e. free doughnut with coffee.

Businesses are adept at getting around requirements or restrictions where an opportunity is present, therefore individual items should be targeted when they are known to be high in fat, sugar and salt.

 It is agreed that the proposal should target situations where consumers make unhealthy choices - promotions of the larger bag size/or unhealthy meal deals. Studies and work need to be done to understand the high percentage of purchases in these areas. However, a potential problem relates to the current cost‐of‐living crisis coming on the back of the ongoing issues of food poverty that have been ongoing in some communities for a number of years.

It is known that many people with lower disposable income currently rely on these types of deals/foods in order to provide a sufficient quantity of food for consumption.

There has to be a balance struck – meaning access to a healthy, affordable alternative is prioritised and made available as part of the proposals.

There should only be unlimited refills on healthy options e.g. water Businesses must be  encouraged to promote a positive attitude towards the healthier option to ensure that 
the healthier choices are made.

Buffet style takeaway/restaurants that encourage eat as much as you like for fixed 
charge should be targeted as part of the proposals. In addition desserts should be  targeted as a growing market i.e. return visits to ice cream machine.  

The proposals should also target set areas which are extremely high in fat, sugar and salt e.g. Munchie boxes in takeaways  

In general, the portion size of High Fat Sugar and Salt foods requires to be targeted so  that the calorific intake is known. 

Restriction of temporary price reductions for unhealthy foods and choice  combinations is supported as it removes an incentive to buy unhealthy products that  are cheaper. However, unless we allow consumers the choice to buy healthy products at an affordable and attractive price then an unhealthy choice is always likely to win i.e the chocolate bar vs fruit.  

Renfrewshire Council believes that temporary promotions should be flipped to ensure the promotion of temporary price reductions for healthy products and combinations. Giving the consumer choice and options for healthy foods at a reasonable price and  responding to the food poverty / cost‐of-living issues that would otherwise be exacerbated by this legislation. 

Temporary Price Reductions are often used by lower income families to supplement their shopping and feed their families – therefore healthier options need to be affordable and the right price promotions can play a significant role in delivering this.  

Price promotions on healthy products should be encouraged/meal deals that add  healthy salad/water/fruit 

Child meal deals should be healthy as standard 

Attitudes around smaller portion sizes  should be changed - a smaller portion is better for your body rather than a company trying to cut costs 
  
Healthy products should be placed at eye level and at an advantageous position within commercial premises.  

All of these messages would be more readily accepted if consumers could see price  promotion of healthy foods as part of the overall approach. 

Yes, there should be a limit on where unhealthy products are displayed and these  promotional / impulse points should be for healthy products

Pop up shops should be treated in the same way and discouraged/not allowed for unhealthy food choices 

Whilst in‐store bakeries are needed, the promotion of goods, the availability of nutritional information and where they are situated should be considered/monitored. 

For the obesity crisis to be targeted, there needs to be a restriction on the promotion of High Fat Sugar and Salt foods at all consumer interactions if this is going to have any  impact. Again, healthier options can be promoted. 

Marketing Opportunities that promote unhealthy products – outside advertising boards  e.g. buses/ boards/apps/health settings. 

Minimise circular leaflets through doors for unhealthy foods. 

Need to take a hard line to make an impact and allow legislation to take effect. 

As detailed earlier ‐Takeaway/restaurants that encourage eat as much as you like for fixed charge. 

Buy One, Get One Free in takeaways/restaurants Portion size of High Fat Sugar and Salt foods targeted

A coordinated approach is required across the board, this must be consistent and  without any gaps.  

There needs to be a cultural change and to achieve this the opportunity should be taken wherever possible to allow people to have access to healthier foods and choices at an  affordable price. 

Food manufacturers Whole systems approach required to look at diet and obesity (Farm to Fork). This will include the restrictions within this consultation but also wider i.e. over provision of take‐away premises etc. 

The exempt/out of scope businesses need to be considered carefully. Should charitable  bake sales be exempt? If the proposals are to assist the NHS, reduce obesity and in turn prevent heart disease, cancer, etc so should we be using High Fat Sugar and Salt foods to raise funds for these organisations? 

Consideration should be given to this and whilst acknowledged, they are not currently  daily or weekly occurrences, there needs to be a complete shift away from these products to healthier options. Consideration also needs therefore to be given to the potential for abuse of exemptions and how easy this would be to control. 

Agreed as people will make a conscious effort to visit these premises and know what  they are going for most of the time. 

Specialist business that mainly sell one type of product could be exempt if they have  limited sales.  People using specialist shops know what they are going for - there is less chance of opportunistic purchases led on by impulse buying due to a good deal. 

Allowing survival of specialist bespoke business with limited sales will not have big  impact on health agenda. 

Too complicated to enforce size –business will register multiple businesses or areas to keep within restrictions.

Best placed as food businesses must register so aware of extent of business within a  geographical area, however appropriate funding would be required. Consideration will  also be required around the resourcing of enforcement to maximise impact, otherwise it could wither with no real impact.  

Staff training ‐ General Nutrition training & policy information training sessions /enforcement of the standards/consistency training/IT system training 

National database for nutrition/modelling/restrictions 

Funding for training/resources/IT  

Implementation guidance 

Consistency across Scotland for larger chains therefore national guidance/consistency  (Home Authority principles for action) 

The recovery from Covid19 and the issues noted, has reinforced the message that action needs to be taken.  

However, a realistic timescale that industry/businesses and enforcement staff can  achieve needs to be set which takes into account the fact that businesses are currently struggling with costs of ingredients/energy costs/labour shortages/packaging  increases following Brexit and Covid19 and regulators are similarly pressurised and restricted so we need to manage the change. 

Local authorities are also focusing on recovering their Food Law inspection  programme under the Code of Practice with other responsibilities including EU Exit,  Homes For Ukraine property inspections, Short Term Lets, Animal Licensing, Smoking on Hospital Grounds (and normal duties) currently being tackled by the profession. 

This is at the time of an ageing workforce and a lack of professionals currently  undertaking the required training. Therefore, timescales are very important to ensure  they are manageable. 

Food supply major concern with business/supply chain with Brexit and enhanced costs  e.g. costs of cooking oil/flour/disposable products. Major feedback from business that this is not the right time,but no time is right.  

Enforcement is currently catching up following  Covid19 so need to clear the back log  before moving forward. Economic recovery is important, however, so is stopping the  obesity crisis. 

Need to be able to change and adapt and plan for future enhancements and sanctions  that encourage healthier food choices for the Scottish population. 

Right to Healthy Food at affordable price is common amongst the population. 

Certain religions/ individuals may not eat certain products and restrictions may impact  on some of those products

Access to healthy food options at affordable prices is currently difficult for people living  in socioeconomic disadvantage. There is the potential for these restrictions to impact on access routes to sufficient food for some families. 

This is absolutely fundamental to this consultation and proposal. If we are taking away  for options for some communities to access affordable food on grounds that this will  improve their health, then we need to replace them with healthier affordable choices.  Otherwise, this will fail. 

If successful the legislation will encourage business to reformulate products that are  healthier and affordable Certain businesses may close due to limited product sales ‐but may encourage new healthier business models to be created that are sustainable. 

Positive enhancement for all businesses that sell healthier food options 

While Renfrewshire Council supports limitations in principle, the focus of any program should be on the promotion of healthy choices within special offer deals, rather than removal of those currently available.

We recognise that deals on foods that might be considered unhealthy are for many constituents, an easy and affordable way of securing a filling meal, and that these are included in budgeting.

People in our communities on limited budgets are often also limited by location and variety of retailers. Implementation of limitations must be considered carefully to ensure limits do not further negatively impact people who are already facing hardship.