New data reveals that food and drink manufacturers in the UK have significantly reduced salt, sugar, and calories in their products over the past decade.
According to a report by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) using Kantar Worldpanel data, salt content has dropped by 31%, sugar by 30%, and calories by 24% in products made by FDF members.
These manufacturers produce about a quarter of all food and drink sold in the UK, including everyday items like oats, yogurt, canned beans, frozen vegetables, ready meals, snacks, and sweets.
In 2024 alone, the industry invested around £180 million in creating healthier products through recipe changes, portion size adjustments, and new product development.
Despite this progress, the FDF urges the government to take stronger, coordinated action to support healthier diets. They recommend mandatory sales reporting of healthy and less healthy products and consistent health policies across manufacturing, retail, and hospitality sectors.
Rising costs and regulations have forced 41% of manufacturers to reduce their investment in healthier products. The FDF calls for more government funding for research and development, especially to help small and medium-sized businesses innovate healthier foods.
They suggest expanding programs like Scotland’s ‘Reformulation for Health’ nationwide with a £4 million fund.
Karen Betts, FDF Chief Executive, praised the industry’s efforts but emphasized the need for government partnership to tackle poor diets effectively. She hopes the upcoming Food Strategy will include policies that support the food industry and promote healthier choices for all consumers.
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