Supermarkets and food manufacturers in England will be expected to play a more active role in addressing the country’s obesity crisis under a new government initiative announced today.
In a significant policy shift, ministers confirmed a partnership with leading food retailers aimed at making healthier food options more accessible and affordable—particularly for families in low-income communities. Measures being considered include in-store promotions for healthier products, redesigned shop layouts, reformulated food products, and changes to loyalty schemes.
Retailers will also be required to report the proportion of their sales made up of healthy food, with government-agreed targets to increase transparency and encourage industry-wide accountability.
The strategy will form a key part of the NHS’s upcoming 10-year plan for England, which is due to be published next week. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the initiative is essential to relieving long-term pressures on the NHS.
“Unless we curb the rising tide of cost and demand, the NHS risks becoming unsustainable,” Streeting said. “This government’s ambition is for kids today to be the healthiest generation yet—and that is within our grasp.”
Recent figures show that more than 20% of children in England are living with obesity by the time they leave primary school, a figure that rises to nearly 30% in the most deprived areas.
While the government’s flexible approach has been welcomed by many in the retail sector, experts warn that real progress will require full industry participation. Andrew Opie, Director of Food and Sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, called the move “really positive,” but stressed the need to include restaurants and convenience food outlets.
“We consume around a quarter of our calories outside the home,” Opie said. “Unless we get supermarkets, food retailers, and restaurants on board, we won’t move the dial on obesity.”
The strategy will also include:
A new NHS app offering shopping incentives and vouchers for healthy eating and physical activity
Doubling the capacity of the Digital Weight Management Programme
Stricter advertising rules for alcohol to align with existing junk food promotion restrictions
Katharine Jenner of the Obesity Health Alliance said the government’s focus on systemic change was welcome. “The root cause of obesity-related ill health is a food system that makes healthy eating difficult,” she said.
While the government says even modest reductions in daily calorie intake could significantly reduce obesity rates, past voluntary reformulation efforts have fallen short. A 2015 pledge to cut sugar in food by 20% by 2020 was not met.
Health policy experts have echoed calls for a more comprehensive national strategy. Sarah Woolnough of The King’s Fund warned that convenience stores and takeaways remain major gaps in current plans.
Anna Taylor of The Food Foundation described the introduction of mandatory health-based sales reporting as “a game changer” and urged rapid implementation.
Further details on the food partnership and full NHS plan are expected in the coming days.
