WIREDGOV

The Agency is consulting on its proposed recommendations to the food industry to reduce saturated fat and to increase the availability of healthier options and smaller portion sizes in savoury snacks.

Meat products and dairy foods are key contributors of saturated fat and calories to our diet. Many savoury snacks have been reformulated to reduce saturated fat recently, but they remain a focus because they are often high in fat and calories. The Agency is therefore proposing the following voluntary recommendations for industry:

• Dairy foods – promote the supply and sale of 1% fat (or less) milk, reduced-fat Cheddar cheese and lower-fat ice cream.
• Meat products – reduce the fat and saturated fat content of sausages, meat pies and pastries.
• Savoury snacks – make single packs of 30g or less more widely available and increase promotion of/encourage consumer interest in the smaller pack sizes.
• All products – increase marketing efforts towards the promotion of reduced/low-fat options, with particular emphasis on lower-fat spreads.

The consultation also covers the scope to amend the legislation on ice cream and Cheddar cheese. The current Food Labelling Regulations do not allow lower-fat versions of these products (below a specified fat content level) to be labelled as ice cream or Cheddar cheese.

Clair Baynton, the Agency’s Head of Nutrition, said: 'The Agency’s proposals are a challenge for the industry, but we know that many businesses have already made great progress in improving the healthiness of their products. Our aim is to ensure that people have a range of smaller portion sizes and lower-saturated-fat options to choose from when shopping, which will make it easier for them to eat a healthier diet.'

This is the second of two consultations proposing voluntary action to reduce saturated fat and calories in foods. The first, which was launched in July 2009 and closed on 3 November 2009, covered soft drinks with added sugar, chocolate confectionery and biscuits, cakes, pastries and buns.

The Agency is seeking views on its proposals by 9 March. The final recommendations from both consultations will be published next year.

This is the latest phase of the Agency’s saturated fat and energy intake programme, which started in February 2008 and aims to help consumers reduce saturated fat in their diet and balance the amount of calories they consume with their needs. This work includes campaigning to raise consumer understanding and working with the food industry to encourage changes to make food healthier.

The programme takes forward some of the challenges set out in the Department of Health's 'Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives' strategy for England, the Scottish Government's 'Healthy Eating, Active Living' plan, the Welsh Assembly's 'Food and Fitness: Promoting Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Children and Young People in Wales 5 Year plan', and the Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety report 'Fit Futures'.