Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Restricting what kinds of foods companies can promote
27 June 2023
In a time when people are struggling to make ends meet, all of us – people, businesses, and governments – need to play our part to build an economy that puts our health and wellbeing first. The Scottish Government says placing wellbeing at the heart of our economy is a top priority – so our policies should put health over corporations whose actions undermine our values.
Everyone in Scotland, no matter where they live, how much money they make, what they do for a living, or how busy they are, should be able to get affordable, healthy, easy, and delicious food, free from the influence of junk food marketing. But some big corporations are continuing to offer promotions on unhealthy foods, meaning that in a time when people are struggling to make ends meet, junk food may be all they can afford. When people are forced to balance budget and health, it has real consequences, as severe as shortened lives. People in Scotland who live in deprived areas are estimated to spend around 25 fewer years of their lives in good health,[1] and are projected to live lives 10 years shorter than those in the least deprived areas.[2]
We need our government to stand up for health and wellbeing by restricting which kinds of foods can be put on promotion.
That’s why the Scottish Obesity Alliance, along with many of our members, sent an open letter to Minister for Public Health Jenni Minto calling for legislation that protects against promotions of unhealthy food options.
In the coming months, we will continue to advocate for these protections with the Scottish Government and with the public.
[1] https://www.gov.scot/publications/long-term-monitoring-health-inequalities-march-2023-report/pages/5/
[2] https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files/statistics/life-expectancy-in-scotland/19-21/life-expectancy-19-21-report.pdf