'Covert' law to cut junk food sales pays off

LEGISLATION to restrict supermarket sales of junk food has led to a “significant” reduction in purchases, according to the first ever independent analysis.

- By Josie Clarke

The new law was intended to go unnoticed and was largely achieved, as 56% of shoppers didn’t notice changes in store.

The research, carried out by the University of Leeds, estimates two million fewer products high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS) were sold per day after the new law took effect.

The study team analysed 11.6 billion items sold in retail giants Tesco, Morrisons, Asda and Sainsbury's.

Before the legislation was implemented, 20 out of every 100 items sold were HFSS products that fell within the scope of the legislation.