Health campaigners are calling for bold measures to reduce deaths from heart disease, including putting cigarette-style warning labels on food, imposing new taxes on salty products, and banning junk food sponsorship of sports. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is urging the government to force the food industry to make products more nutritious by reducing salt and sugar levels. The BHF estimates that these actions could save as many as 11,000 lives a year by 2035.
Cardiac fatalities have been on the rise, with 39,000 people dying before the age of 75 in England in 2022. The BHF is also proposing banning junk food advertising on billboards and radio, as well as introducing mandatory warning labels on food packaging. They are recommending extending the ban on junk food adverts to billboards and radio, as well as outlawing “buy one get one free” offers in supermarkets.
The Food and Drink Federation acknowledges the need for bold action to address bad diet and excess weight, but also emphasizes the importance of involving healthcare providers and the third sector. The Department of Health and Social Care has not commented directly on the BHF’s proposals but has stated that the government has already taken action to tackle cardiovascular disease.
The BHF’s call for stricter regulations to promote healthy eating is supported by Bite Back, Jamie Oliver’s organization. They believe that the government needs to implement stringent measures to protect young people from becoming future cardiac statistics. Businesses have invested over £160m since 2023 to create healthier food and drink options, but more action is needed to address the growing health crisis.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com