Taking Forward the Healthy Food Code of Good Practice

This integrated programme of initiatives aims to reverse the rising tide of obesity and overweight through supporting people to have a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.

18/07/08 The Agency and the Department of Health (DH) have jointly written to food industry leaders and other interested parties setting out plans to assist in delivering the Healthy Food Code of Good Practice.

The Healthy Food Code of Good Practice summarises the challenge to all sectors of the food industry to promote healthy eating.

Early this year (23 January 2008), the Government published Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives – a cross-Government strategy for England. This integrated programme of initiatives aims to reverse the rising tide of obesity and overweight through supporting people to have a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.

The strategy sets out what the Government will do and its expectations of others. Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives calls on all sections of society to make changes to help people make healthier choices.

The Healthy Food Code of Good Practice is contained within Promoting healthier food choices, one of the five key strands to the Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives strategy.

The code sets out seven areas where the Government expects companies in every food sector to take action to demonstrate their commitment to promote healthy eating. These can be summarised as:

* front-of-pack labelling
* smaller portion sizes for energy-dense and foods high in salt
* promotion of food to children
* reductions in consumption and the levels of saturated fat and sugar, particularly sugary drinks
* increasing consumption of healthier foods
* single set of key healthy eating messages
* nutritional information on food eaten out of the home.

The letter, sent 15 July 2008 to food manufacturers, retailers, health professionals, consumer groups, food service and catering groups, sets out the plans and is attached below.