UK Opens Consultation on Health and Nutrition

The U.K. Cabinet Office has begun an open consultation on general health policies, including nutrition initiatives. The consultation includes an announcement that the government will ban the sale of energy drinks to children under 16, with the full policy to be announced “in our consultation response shortly.” The consultation response will also include details of a proposed policy on “making calorie labelling mandatory in the out-of-home sector, such as restaurants, takeaways and cafes.” Further, the government has identified five areas of the country that will test programs to restrict advertising for foods high in fat, sugar and salt, incentivize business to “improve their retail offer,” improve accessibility and affordability of healthy foods and “create healthier food environments through the planning system.” The consultation also includes plans for “infant feeding, clear labelling, food reformulation improving the nutritional content of foods, and support for individuals to achieve and maintain a healthier weight.”