LONDON (Reuters) – Britain bans ‘buy one get one free’ offers for foods high in fat, sugar or salt and free refills of soft drinks in restaurants from April 2022, the government said on Monday, its latest step in its plan to reduce obesity to tackle and improve public health.
According to the government, obesity is one of Britain’s biggest long-term problems for public health, with almost two-thirds of adults in England overweight and one in three children leaving primary school overweight or obese.
The measures will also limit where promotions on such products can be advertised in a store, and unhealthy promotions are not allowed at checkouts, store entrances or at the end of the aisles.
‘We limit promotions and introduce a range of measures to ensure that the healthy choice is the easy choice. “Creating an environment that helps everyone to eat healthier food more regularly is crucial to improving the health of the country,” said Jo Churchill, Minister of Public Health.
Britain first proposed in July that ‘buy one get one free’ offers for junk food be restricted, and also announced measures such as the ban on TV and online junk food advertising before 9pm.
Last month, the government went further and proposed a total ban on online advertising of unhealthy foods.
Being overweight has been shown to increase the risk of serious illness or death due to COVID-19 – a fact emphasized by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has spoken publicly about his own need to lose weight since being hospitalized was recorded.
Reporting by Alistair Smout, Edited by Louise Heavens