Pubs could be forced to report healthy food sales

Pubs, bars and hospitality businesses have potentially been thrown another curve ball by Westminster, with a new policy paving the way for monitoring and reporting healthy food sales.

In a bid to increase the healthiness of consumption in communities across the UK, the policy will see "all big food businesses" report on healthy food sales.

So far, Labour has not specified which businesses come under such classification, with only supermarkets mentioned initially. 

However, with plenty of pubs and bars falling under the category of "big food businesses", the industry will now have another decision from government to monitor.

"The starting point for any effective plan to tackle obesity in the UK must be in schools, by teaching pupils how to cook and by putting food and nutrition back into the curriculum so children can make educated, healthy choices throughout their lives," says Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality. "It cannot be about imposing random, mandatory targets for businesses that will not deliver genuine change – but which will add further red tape and costs.

"It is therefore imperative that the government engages now with the hospitality sector to avoid generating unforeseen consequences for vital businesses such as community pubs, neighbourhood restaurants, local cafes, and school meal providers.

"Mandatory reporting and set targets with unclear outcomes will only add to the financial burden for such businesses which, in the midst of soaring cost-price inflation, are already battling to keep prices low and quality high for hard working families wanting to enjoy the occasional treat and meal out."

Healthy food revolution 

The government says it is aiming to set full transparency and accountability around these food businesses.

It says it will then set targets to increase the healthiness of sales in communities across the UK and work with the Food Strategy Advisory Board on the sequencing of this policy.  

Under the plans, food retailers and manufacturers will be encouraged to “make the healthy choice the easy choice”. The partnership between government and industry aims to tackle the obesity epidemic and ease pressure on the NHS as part of the Plan for Change. 

As part of the forthcoming 10-year Health Plan, large retailers including supermarkets will be set a new standard to make the average shopping basket of goods sold slightly healthier. 

Businesses will be given the freedom to meet the standard however works best for them.

Public health experts believe cutting the calorie count of a daily diet by just 50 calories would lift 340,000 children and 2m adults out of obesity.

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