Retailers were praised by the minister of public health on Wednesday for actively promoting fruit and vegetables in stores and working together with the government to combat obesity.
Minister Dawn Primarolo, speaking at the British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) launch of its report British Retailing: A Commitment to Health, said: “It is great to see the big supermarkets actively promoting fruit and vegetables and that actively promoting them need not be costly. We are starting to achieve the future we seek.
“As we shape a healthier future… we see that it can be done commercially, with initiatives like 5 A DAY and Change4Life changing people’s minds and the social landscape. The unrepentant few that ignore healthy living have halved since 2003 and the number of people eating more fruit and veg and less salt and fat has risen significantly.”
The report is the third BRC report of its kind in six years, demonstrating BRC members’ commitment to the health and nutritional needs of their customers.
The 2009 report reveals the progress achieved since the last report three years ago and Tesco, Sainsbury’s, The Co-operative Group, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, Burger King and McDonald’s have all taken part.
Primarolo continued: “The alliance between government and business is starting to achieve something very profound, so it’s vital that we build on this momentum.”
Tesco got a particular mention from Primarolo at the launch for its Disney-themed fruit and yogurt packaging.
She told freshinfo: “There is a wealth of evidence that shows getting more fruit and veg into your diet can significantly benefit your health. In fact, the NHS cancer plan says it is the best way to prevent cancer after quitting smoking.
“The facts are encouraging; increasing numbers of people know about our 5 A DAY campaign and are including more fruit and veg in their diets. 5 A DAY is an ambitious yet achievable goal to getting us eating better and living longer.”
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