Following its consultation in 2024 on Restricting Promotions of Food and Drink High in Fat, Sugar or Salt (HFSS), the Scottish Government will bring forward regulations in Autumn to help create a food environment which better supports healthier choices.
The Scottish Government has also said it will align its restrictions with policy in England and Wales, targeting food and drink categories that are ‘significant contributors of calories, fat, sugar or salt to the Scottish diet and of most concern to childhood obesity, such as confectionery, cakes, crisps and soft drinks with added sugar’.
“These regulations will seek to reduce the public health harms associated with the excess consumption of calories, fat, sugar or salt, including the risks of developing type 2 diabetes, various types of cancer and other conditions such as cardiovascular disease,” Jenni Minto, Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health said in a statement.
“I believe this is an important step setting the path for consideration of what more can be done, in line with the ambition set out in our long-term Population Health Framework, to reduce the health harms caused by poor diet.”
Commenting on the news, David Thomson, Food and Drink Federation Scotland’s chief executive officer, added: “We welcome the decision from the Scottish Government to align with the regulations in other parts of the UK. This creates a level playing field for businesses selling into Scottish stores compared with England and Wales.
“We look forward to working in partnership with the Scottish Government to help prepare our businesses for the regulations coming into force. At the same time our Reformulation for Health Programme will be there to continue to support Scotland’s food and drink businesses to make their products healthier.”
