Draft saturated fat and energy intake programme

The key proposals are:

• improving consumer awareness and understanding of healthy eating, with particular focus on the impact of saturated fat on health
• encouraging promotion and uptake of healthier options, such as 'reduced fat' products and the retailers - 'healthier' ranges
• encouraging accessibility of smaller food portion sizes
• encouraging voluntary reformulation of mainstream products to reduce saturated fat and energy

Background
The rationale for, and scope of, the Government's draft saturated fat and energy intake programme is set out in the accompanying document.

Current population average intakes of saturated fat exceed public health recommendations, and the rising levels of obesity indicate that energy (calorie) intakes currently exceed energy requirements. Both these conditions raise serious health concerns, particularly in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD), some cancers and type II diabetes.

Points to consider for this consultation
The draft programme comprises four prongs that interlink and complement each other, to achieve the strategic objectives of reducing saturated fat intakes and helping consumers to achieve and maintain energy balance:

• promote consumer awareness and understanding of healthy eating, particularly the adverse effects of excess saturated fat intakes on cardiovascular health
• encourage increased availability of healthier reduced saturated fat and energy alternatives to mainstream products. Encourage the uptake of these healthier options by consumers
• encourage increased availability of smaller portion sizes for some products and encourage their uptake by consumers
• encourage the food industry to improve the nutrition profile of its mainstream products by reducing saturated fat levels and energy value through reformulation

All four prongs require the Agency to continue to work in partnership with its stakeholders, including health departments, food industry (which encompasses the whole food chain including food producers, manufacturers, retailers and suppliers) and other non-government organisations. Each prong is discussed in greater detail in the main body of the draft saturated fat and energy intake programme document.

Appendix I of the draft programme provides examples of good practice within the food industry to demonstrate the points discussed below.

Appendix II of the draft programme outlines food groups which contribute to saturated fat and energy intakes and where discussions with stakeholders indicates there might be opportunities for reformulation. This appendix proposes a number of specific issues for consideration and exploration with interested parties.

We are seeking your views on the questions posed in the boxes that are outlined in the main body of the draft programme, as well as the more detailed points relating to individual food groups outlined in Appendix II. We also welcome any other comments relating to this programme that you may feel relevant.

Actions following this consultation
Once the consultation is complete, comments made will be taken into account in and will be used in the development of the final programme.

If you are in Scotland and wish to contact FSA Scotland with any queries or responses then please contact:

Kathy Guinee
Diet and Nutrition Branch
Food Standards Agency Scotland
6th Floor
St Magnus House
25 Guild Street
Aberdeen AB11 6NJ

Tel: 01224 285 159
Fax: 01224 285 168
Email: dietandnutrition@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

This consultation has been prepared in accordance with the HM Government Code of Practice on Consultation, which states that a consultation must follow better regulation best practice, including carrying out an Impact Assessment (Regulatory Impact Assessment in Scotland). The assessment is included in the consultation documents.

We are interested in what you thought of this consultation and would therefore welcome your general feedback on both the consultation package and overall consultation process. If you would like to assist us to improve the quality of future consultations, please feel free to share your thoughts with us by using the consultation feedback questionnaire.

Consultation feedback questionnaire (Word)

Consultation feedback questionnaire (pdf)

In accordance with the FSA principle of openness our Information Centre at Aviation House will hold a copy of the completed consultation. The FSA will publish a summary of responses, which may include personal data, such as your full name. Disclosure of any other personal data would be made only upon request for the full consultation responses. If you do not want this information to be released, please complete and return the Publication of Personal Data Form. Return of this form does not mean that we will treat your response to the consultation as confidential, just your personal data.

Data protection form (Word)

Data protection form (pdf)

Within three months of a consultation ending we aim to publish a summary of responses received and provide a link to it from this page.

If, after three months, the summary is still not showing, please contact the person who was responsible for the original consultation. Alternatively, you can contact the FSA Consultation Co-ordinator by email: consultationcoordinator@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk