CONTROVERSIAL research recommending in-store promotion of unhealthy food be cut and the sugar tax extended to help tackle obesity, was at the centre of the most recent meeting of the Cross Party Group on Independent Convenience Stores at Holyrood.
Professor Leigh Sparks of Stirling Univesity’s Institute for Retail Studies attended to present his report, commissioned by Food Standards Scotland, which examined ways in which retail outlets could potentially be transformed to help consumers make healthier choices.
While he said retailing was “only part of the problem, as well as part of the solution” Sparks pointed to various steps he argued could be taken to improve shopper behaviour.
These included extending the levy on high-sugar soft drinks to include other categories such as products high in salt, sugar, and saturated fats; introducing restrictions on promotions similar to existing legislation on irresponsible alcohol promotions; regulating the placement of ‘unhealthy’ products in store; restricting products that can be placed in impulse positions; limiting retailers’ ability to run loyalty schemes involving ‘unhealthy’ products; banning or regulating the flyers which stores can distribute.
Group member Linda Williams, Broadway Premier, said she was “scared witless” by the report and the potential impact it could have on local stores, particularly those that rely on impulse sales.
She said: “People know what’s good for them and what’s not and I really don’t think it’s our job to tell them.”
Referring to this as the “nanny state” argument, Sparks responded by saying the balance of in-store messaging was overwhelmingly in favour of unhealthy products, making it very difficult for consumers to make healthy decisions.
He went on to say that the evidence showed, despite all the efforts at national and local levels to promote healthy eating in the last 20 years, the Scottish diet had not improved – and in some places had actually gotten worse.
A representative from Scotmid said he was “very disappointed” in the report, which he felt painted retailers as “villains”.
He added: “As a c-store sector we can’t be social engineers. That’s not our role.”
Sparks replied: “One point you could make is that because of the prevalence of all the promotions, all the unhealthy elements, you are social engineers. You’re doing it unknowingly.”
The group also heard a presentation from Kathryn Neil about the positive work of the SGF Healthy Living Programme.
• The next meeting, scheduled for November 28, will focus on the deposit return scheme.
