Government’s 10-year health plan could ‘add red tape and costs’ warns UKHospitality

UKHospitality has called for clarity from the government as to how its new 10-year health plan will impact the hospitality sector.

The Department for Health and Social Care announced the plan yesterday (3 July), including a pledge to “end the obesity epidemic”. As part of this, measures which may involve the hospitality industry include the introduction of mandatory healthy food sales reporting for all large companies in the food sector, reforming the soft drinks industry levy to drive reformulation and banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16s.

The government said it will use the food sales reporting to “set new mandatory targets on the average healthiness of sales”.

UKHospitality said hospitality was already playing a key role in supporting the government’s ambition, with significant investments in menu development and reformulation, and an increase in healthy food choices being available.

The trade body said: “Hospitality businesses are committed to ensuring their customers have a wide variety of menu options and nutritional information available, to allow them to make informed food choices.”

UKHospitality wants the government to collaborate and co-develop measures that can make a positive, genuine difference to the country’s health, in a way that’s viable for hospitality businesses, but warned there is “no blanket approach to achieving that goal and not all food businesses can be painted with the same brush”.

Kate Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality, called on the government to detail what mandatory reporting would look like, and which businesses would fall under its scope.

“Collaboration with the sector will be key as enforcing blunt and ill-suited measures upon businesses will not deliver genuine change but will instead add further red tape and cost. That cost will be passed onto the consumer, with hospitality businesses unable to absorb any further cost,” she said.

“The hospitality sector is up for the challenge of developing a healthier nation, and it’s undeniable we’re already doing a huge amount of work to do just that.

“It’s also important to remember that hospitality is a place for special occasion, and where many people gather for a treat. Whether it’s a trip to the local pub, dining out at a restaurant getting a takeaway, these are occasions that really matter to people and what they look forward. These instances aren’t a daily occurrence and likely to be a treat every few weeks or months.

“We need to ensure the sector isn’t pushed into new rules that end up tainting these experiences. Therefore, working in tandem with government across a holistic approach that spans across consumers, food businesses, the supply chain and education, is the best way to deliver the food revolution it craves. Not only will this keep the doors hospitality businesses open, but it also protects a staple of British culture.”

The government said it would achieve its national health goals by “harnessing a huge cross-societal energy on prevention. We will work with businesses, employers, investors, local authorities and mayors to create a healthier country together”.