A number of leading brands and retailers, including Compass, Subway and Beefeater, have pledged to reduce calories in their food as part of the industry’s Responsibility Deal with the Government.
It is hoped that the commitment to offer healthier options will help achieve the Government’s long-term aim of cutting five billion calories from the nation’s daily diet.
The pledges include Subway committing to offer five out of their nine “low fat range subs” as part of their £3 lunch offer. Mars said it would cap the calories of its chocolate items to 250 calories per portion by the end of 2013, while Coca-Cola GB pledged to reduce the calories in some of its soft drinks brands by at least 30% by 2014.
The calorie reduction pledge follows on from the commitment to calorie labelling and salt reduction made last year.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said England had one of the highest rates of obesity in Europe and some of the highest rates in the developed world. Over 60% of adults and a third of 10 and 11 year olds were overweight or obese. Consuming too many calories was at the heart of the problem.
Lansley said: “The impact of these commitments will help millions of people eat and drink fewer calories. Eating and drinking too many calories is at the heart of the nation's obesity problem.
“We all have a role to play – from individuals to public, private and non-governmental organisations – if we are going to cut five billion calories from our national diet. It is an ambitious challenge but the Responsibility Deal has made a great start.
“This pledge is just the start of what must be a bigger, broader commitment from the food industry. But it is a great step in the right direction and will help million of us eat and drink fewer calories.”
