Retail NZ and supermarket obesity pledge applauded

Retail NZ and supermarket obesity pledge applauded

Retail NZ, Foodstuffs, Progressive Enterprises, Moore Wilson, and Bin Inn are to be congratulated for pledging to work on initiatives under the Government’s Childhood Obesity Plan, says the NZ Food and Grocery Council.

Chief Executive Katherine Rich says Retail NZ’s Pledge on Reducing Childhood Obesity, which the retailers have signed up to, sends exactly the right message.

“This is a powerful statement from four of New Zealand’s biggest grocery retailers. It shows that the retail side of the industry is serious about helping to tackle this concerning issue, and manufacturers welcome that.

“In signing up to support product reformulation, education initiatives, healthier food choices, and the use of Health Star Ratings they are joining the work manufacturers have been doing.

“Product reformulation to remove sugar, salt and fat from all sorts of foods – as well as making available low-cal and no-cal beverage options – has been going on for some years. And manufacturers have backed that up by developing or supporting many healthy food and lifestyle programmes in schools and communities.

“FGC believes that food literacy centred on moderation remains one of the best options to tackle obesity and encourage healthier lifestyles, and it’s a policy that mirrors the Government’s eating and activity guidelines for adults, which complement its package of initiatives aimed at reducing childhood obesity.

“It’s great that the grocery industry can now point to a joined-up approach to obesity, and it would be great to see other food retailers join the Retail NZ pledge.”

ends

© Scoop Media