FOOD promotions that encourage customers to “go large” on fast food meals should be banned and healthier alternatives promoted instead, a local authority has said.
Dundee City Council is expected to approve the call as part of its response to a nationwide consultation on improving diets.
Food Standards Scotland is gathering views on what can be done to try to curb the nation’s obesity problem.
The council’s response, expected to be approved by its community safety and public protection committee, outlines its support for proposals including boosting access to reduced portion sizes, changing recipes, and applying calorie labelling on menus, signs and online adverts.
On “go large” promotions, the council says: “Businesses need to cease practices that encourage over-consumption. This will require defining carefully which practices encourage overeating.
“Multipacks and ‘go large’ promotions on meals and drinks should be banned. Healthy meal deals could be promoted. Campaigns can include celebrity endorsement of healthy eating TV cooking programmes; FSS (Food Standards Scotland) website promotion and better use of social media to encourage consumers to use calorie counting apps on their mobile phones”.
Heather Peace, head of public health nutrition at Food Standards Scotland, said: “We are delighted that Dundee City Council is planning to take part in our Out of Home consultation. We would also encourage other organisations and consumers to have their say so we can gather as many views as possible before the consultation ends on February 28.”
NHS Tayside dietetic consultant in public health nutrition Joyce Thompson said: “The proposals, which include consideration of portion sizes, calorie information, improving quality of food sold out of home, and shifting marketing and promotion strategies, offer important steps in the solution to tackle overweight and obesity.”
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