BOGOF ban delay a ‘nail in the coffin’ for freedom

The Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) have expressed serious concern over the Prime Minister’s decision to delay legislation to ban multi-buy offers on junk food saying that contrary to the PM’s claims, the ban would give people greater freedom and choice.

The decision, which was announced on Saturday, means that the long-awaited ban on multibuy deals for foods and drinks high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) will be delayed until 2025.

Prof Jim McManus, ADPH President, explained:

“Mr Sunak has said that he firmly believes in people’s right to choose, but what he has overlooked is that there are multi-million pound global conglomerates behind these deals who are firmly in the driving seat.

“It is well evidenced that promotions on HFSS food and drink, far from giving people choice, in fact influence people’s purchasing habits, encouraging them to buy more – that is, after all, why the industry does them. By banning these types of deals, people would be free from industry influence, and able to make informed decisions, by themselves.”

Directors of Public Health (DsPH), who are responsible for the protecting and promoting the health of their local populations, are also disputing the claim that BOGOF deals help make food more affordable for families. In research published by Public Health England in 2020, the saving to families taking advantage of multi-buy deals was found to be just 27p a week.

Prof McManus said:

“We are deeply concerned about the impact the cost-of-living crisis is having on people’s health, but this is not the way to alleviate it. Instead, Government should be looking at what is working locally and ways to make household essentials affordable. Junk food is not an essential but is harmful – for there is no doubt that eating unhealthily leads to a myriad of preventable illnesses.

“Don’t forget too that these illnesses have their own negative impact on finances. For example, loss of earnings as a result of time off work, or increased medical costs because of treatment will compound the cost-of-living crisis, not just for individuals and their families, but for the UK economy as a whole.”

Earlier this month, ADPH responded to the Government’s announcement on investment into anti-obesity drugs.

Prof McManus, who is also DPH for Hertfordshire, added:

“There is no quick fix for obesity. Instead of investing billions in treatment, we need effective measures that will prevent obesity in the first place. Restrictions on marketing fall firmly into this camp and need to be expedited, not delayed.

“This weekend’s announcement is yet another nail in the coffin for freedom of choice and bows to industry influence. Headline grabbing it may be, but it is not helping our society become healthier. It will have minimal impact on people’s purses and worst of all, will contribute to the continuing rise of people suffering from entirely preventable illness.”

Notes to editors:

• Earlier this year, ADPH and the Local Government Association published a joint annual report focussing on the health implications of the cost-of-living crisis.
• For more information about tackling obesity, read our ‘History of healthy weight’.