Sunak government dropped guidance on healthy food after firms' lobbying

Government legal guidance urging retailers in England to offer millions of consumers deals and discounts on minimally processed and nutritious food was dropped after a lobbying campaign by the world's biggest ultra-processed food firms, the Guardian can reveal.

- Andrew Gregory

In advance of regulations banning junk food promotions coming into force in October, the Department of Health and Social Care issued advice to thousands of shops, supermarkets, online retailers and other businesses to help them comply with the law.

The guidance said: "The aim of this policy is to shift the balance of promotions towards healthier options such as minimally processed and nutritious food." This might include two-for-one deals, discounts or extra loyalty points on fruit, vegetables, whole grains, fresh meat and fish.

Promotions on minimally processed and nutritious food would be gamechanging, making it more affordable and improving the diets of millions.

But the idea to promote healthy foods was dropped after the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), which represents corporations including Nestlé, Mondelēz, Coca-Cola, Mars and Unilever repeatedly demanded the government ditch it.

Now the new regulations coming into force in England still limit the promotion of food and drink that is high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS), but guidance issued to retailers no longer urges them to switch deals to minimally processed and nutritious food.

Instead, it encourages promotions of "healthier options". Experts say this is "flawed" because many ultra-processed foods still meet the definition of "healthier", including some energy drinks, crisps, snacks, cereal bars, pizzas and ice-creams.

The U-turn, revealed for the first time, occurred on 1 June 2023 under Rishi Sunak's government, the Guardian found. The change remains in the current government's guidance being issued to retailers before the law change in October.

The FDF waged a campaign to put pressure on the DHSC to rewrite its nutrition policy, lobbying officials to remove the push to minimally processed food in the guidance issued to retailers, according to documents and emails reviewed by the Guardian.