Monday 29 April 2013

"Food and drink display ban in large shops comes into force"

From the BBC:

A ban on the display of food and drink in large shops in Scotland has come into force.

Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said the move will help prevent young people from becoming obese. Under the Food and Drink Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010, the sale of snacks from vending machines is also banned.

Stores that do not comply could be convicted of a criminal offence or receive a fixed penalty fine. England, Wales and Northern Ireland plan to bring in similar bans to prevent large stores from displaying groceries and soft drinks. The Scottish government's Obesity Control Strategy also supports the introduction of standardised packaging.

Mr Matheson said: "These bans are the right step to prevent young people in Scotland from becoming obese or succumbing to a range of diet-related illnesses such as diabetes. It is well known that eating is associated with a range of illnesses from kidney failure to heart attacks and is the primary preventable cause of ill health and premature death. Each year, malnutrition and over-eating is associated with over 13,000 deaths and 56,000 hospital admissions in Scotland.

"That is why it is so important that this government works to improve health by reducing the number of people who choose to eat food or consume drinks containing potentially harmful additives such as sugar and salt. Evidence shows that young people exposed to the promotion of fast food are more likely to pop out for an artery-hardening burger and chips."

3 comments:

SumoKing said...

you know, you joke but....

Lola said...

Every time I read pieces like these I get a rising surge of fury...

Bob E said...

For L and SK

"Every store to be like Argos or Amazon in future" announces government "except there will be no on-line or published catalogues or in-store displays".

"A government spokesperson explained that 'the new model store' would consist of a shop front opening onto an array of manned 'service tills' behind which would be a floor to ceiling wall to hide all the goods. Shoppers would enquire at the service till "is this a store selling 'X' and if they received an affirmative, duly order up and pay for, the goods they wanted." This, the spokesperson added, ensures that there is, as sadly happen all too frequently now, no possibility of someone entering a store to buy wholly healthy goods and being seduced, by seeing them on open display, wholly unhealthy goods and buying them instead or in addition to their healthy goods purchases."