The UK’s Department of Health (DoH) has announced that more than 390 companies have set out the steps they are taking to help the public make healthier lifestyle choices.
The companies have published reports on the actions they have taken to deliver their Responsibility Deal commitments to reduce the amount of fat, salt, sugar, alcohol and calories in their products, and promote physical activity. In total more than 70 per cent of companies asked to report on progress have done so and more are expected in the coming months, said the DoH.
The returns are said to highlight the vast work being undertaken by partners across all the four networks of food, alcohol, physical activity and wellbeing in helping people across the country to live healthier lives.
The Responsibility Deal is a voluntary scheme that asks companies to sign up to pledges to support healthy choices. This includes reductions in the amount of salt, fat, sugar, alcohol unit and calories in the products they produce and sell, and taking action to improve health at work and promote physical activity.
In the food network, partners have shared details of the good work they have been doing, the DoH said. From reducing calories in meals and drinks, reformulating foods to reduce salt content or putting clearer labelling on products, the DoH believes that good progress is being made across the board. For example, as part of the calorie reduction pledge, Britvic now produces only its no added sugar Fruit Shoot in Great Britain. It is estimated this will remove 2.2 billion calories from the childrens’ drinks market.
Alcohol is another area in which the industry has taken positive action, the DoH said. Through the Responsibility Deal alcohol network, industry has committed to removing one billion units of alcohol sold annually from the market by December 2015, principally through improving consumer choice of lower alcohol products.
Reports published this year suggest encouraging progress, said the DoH, with 253 million units of alcohol already removed from the market, in part by reformulation in 2012.
There have also been successes from several companies in the Physical Activity and Health at Work Pledge, where companies have been promoting physical activity in the workplace in creative and innovative ways. This has included helping to improve fitness levels amongst staff, as well as helping with smoking cessation.
L’Oreal UK and Ireland has launched a stair challenge at its headquarters. The company calculated the height of the Shard in London and encouraged staff to climb the equivalent by walking up and down the stairs over a week. Each step now has a number and motivating words up the whole stair case. At The Authentic Food Company, fruit is given free of charge to staff on Fruity Tuesdays to encourage healthy eating.
Fabricom GDF Suez ran a series of roadshows with Macmillan to raise cancer awareness with staff, contractors and their families. Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust were pleased to achieve the NHS Sport and Physical Activity Gold award in 2013.
“These returns show that by working in partnership with industry, we are making real progress towards getting the nation into healthy habits for life,” said Public Health Minister Jane Ellison.
“Whilst it is very encouraging to see so many companies getting behind the Responsibility Deal, we know there remains more to be done. We cannot credibly tackle the major public health challenges our country faces without engaging with the companies that play such a big part in people’s lives and it is vital that momentum is maintained.”
“We congratulate those industry partners who have reported successes as part of this year’s Responsibility Deal returns and hope their leadership encourages others to take action too. No business can afford to ignore the health of customers and staff alike.”
