Food & Drink
Cancer warning on meat?
US watchdog calls for carcinogen warning on processed meat and poultry.
2 January 2017
The ultra-processed food industry has blocked government attempts to push shops to put promotional deals on healthy foods, according to a Soil Association investigation.
Emails obtained by the charity via Freedom of Information requests reveal that the government retreated from plans to back ‘minimally processed and nutritious foods’ after months of persistent lobbying by the food manufacturing sector.
The Department of Health and Social Care had planned to encourage retailers to shift the balance of price promotions towards minimally processed foods – which include fruit, vegetables, beans, wholegrains like rice and pasta and unprocessed meat.
But the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) demanded this steer was removed from the guidance – despite overwhelming scientific evidence that this category of foods is crucial for a healthy diet.
The FDF, which channels its members’ views, said the government’s promotion of minimally processed foods was a ‘real bone of contention’ for the companies it represents.
Its members include Coca-Cola, Nestle, Unilever, Mars, Cadbury, Mondelez, Danone, PepsiCo and Kellanova, owner of Kellogg’s.
These companies are all major manufacturers of ultra-processed foods (UPF), which have been linked to serious health problems like cancer and heart disease.
Evidence shows that UPFs commonly displace healthy foods and make up more than half of the British diet.
‘This move to block discounts on healthy foods is clearly one which benefits the profits of UPF manufacturers more than the health of their consumers. The World Health Organization says healthy diets are based around unprocessed and minimally processed foods. We’re concerned the UK government has been prevented from saying the same and we are worried corporate profits are being put before public health.’
CATHY CLIFF
Soil Association campaigns co-ordinator
In response to the investigation, the Soil Association and leading food and health organisations have written an open letter to Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, demanding urgent action to make healthy, minimally processed foods more accessible and affordable.
Signatories include the Obesity Health Alliance, which represents 60 leading health bodies, the British Dietetics Association and the Association of Directors of Public Health.
The Soil Association has also launched a petition based on the same asks for government.
In October this year, government regulations are due to come into effect to restrict retailers from placing ‘volume price promotions’, such as multi-buy offers, on foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS).
In late 2023, guidance was issued to support adoption of the upcoming new rules, and initial drafts of this advice encouraged retailers to shift price promotions, and product positioning within store, towards minimally processed foods.
This could have set an important precedent, paving the way for government policies aimed at increasing consumption of fresh, healthy, minimally processed foods, such as fruits and vegetables, as a means of reducing the dominance of ultra-processed foods in diets.
But the guidance was rewritten after months of lobbying by the food industry. Instead, it encouraged promotion of ‘healthier options’, which the Soil Association claims is ‘flawed’ advice.
‘While public trust in the food industry is incredibly low, for decades governments have placed baseless faith in it—allowing companies that profit from highly processed, high fat, salt, and sugar products to interfere with policies designed to curb their harmful impact. Sadly, these companies are following the ‘tobacco playbook’—a strategy designed to protect profits at the expense of public health. They deny and undermine the evidence, dilute policies with loopholes and exemptions, and delay action for as long as possible.’
KATHARINE JENNER
Director, Obesity Health Alliance
Foods defined as ‘healthier’ in the guidance include many UPFs such as energy drinks, crisps, snacks, cereal bars, fizzy soft drinks, puddings, pizzas, burgers, ice creams, pastries and chewing gums.
In emails to officials uncovered by the Soil Association, the FDF appears to question whether minimally processed foods are more nutritious than these ultra-processed products, saying ‘the science does not support’ such a conclusion.
‘It is ludicrous to claim that fresh foods are not more nutritious than UPFs and to define highly manufactured items like fizzy drinks and ice cream as healthier options. This flawed advice leaves the door open for business as usual for ultra-processed diets, when it could have been used to steer retailers towards making genuinely healthy foods more affordable.’
CATHY CLIFF
Soil Association campaigns co-ordinator
Public concern over these issues is growing. New public opinion polling within the Soil Association’s investigation found that most Brits do not want the ultra-processed food industry to be involved in policymaking around healthy food.
In a recent survey, less than 2% of respondents said they ‘completely trust’ food corporations to provide advice around healthy eating, with around half of survey respondents saying they do not trust them at all.
Nearly all – 93% – said they would be concerned to hear that the UPF industry had blocked government attempts to ask shops to put discounts on healthy foods.
Most people (90%) also said they think government officials should be required to transparently declare the details of conversations they have with the ultra-processed food industry.
These findings echo comments made last year by the Lords Committee on Food, Diet and Obesity which warned that the industry commonly ‘seeks through sophisticated lobbying strategies to influence both government policymaking and academic research for its own ends’.
Indeed after the government backed away from pushing minimally processed foods, the FDF described this as a ‘key win’ for its corporate members – in a statement that has since been removed from its website.
When seeking evidence through Freedom of Information requests, the Soil Association was asked to refine its request due to the sheer volume of correspondence.
The Freedom of Information Team at the Department of Health said: ‘A search for any emailed or written correspondence between DHSC and the Food and Drink Federation, or third parties acting on behalf of the Food and Drink Federation, between October 2022 and October 2023, pertaining to DHSC’s use of the term ‘minimally processed’ produced over 1,800 emails’. This, the department said, would take too long to process.
‘There is a trust issue here. The public are clearly concerned, and these events do appear to be part of a coordinated effort to protect the interests of ultra-processed food manufacturers. We’re concerned that the emails we have obtained are just the tip of the iceberg of the industry’s influence on health policy.’
CATHY CLIFF
Soil Association campaigns co-ordinator
Click here to sign the petition and join the Soil Association and other health organisations in calling for the government to make it easier for everyone to enjoy healthy foods.
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