Restricting promotion of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt: consultation analysis - SG response

Ministerial Foreword

Action to improve the food environment is vital to achieving our ambition of a Scotland where it is easier to eat well and maintain a healthy weight. We know that over two-thirds of adults in Scotland live with overweight or obesity. Evidence is clear on the effects that diet and obesity have on health. I am pleased to set out action that seeks to improve health in Scotland by creating environments that help to prevent overweight and obesity from developing in the first instance.

Following our consultation in 2024 on Restricting Promotions of Food and Drink High in Fat, Sugar or Salt, Scottish Government will bring forward regulations in Autumn to help create a food environment which better supports healthier choices.

I would like to thank all the individuals and organisations who took the time to contribute their thoughts and opinions. As the consultation analysis shows, the responses set out a range of views held on the detail of proposed regulation to restrict the promotion of HFSS food and drink. This feedback has played a critical part in the decision making process helping to ensure regulations are proportionate and designed to deliver a positive impact to people’s health.

It is clear that interventions that seek to improve public health must balance the potential positive health impacts with the effects and implementation challenges for business and industry. The Scottish Government has sought to do that, aiming to support a healthy population as well as a prosperous wellbeing economy.

It is this Government’s intention that restrictions in Scotland will align with policy in England and Wales. These regulations will seek to reduce the public health harms associated with the excess consumption of calories, fat, sugar or salt, including the risks of developing type 2 diabetes, various types of cancer and other conditions such as cardiovascular disease.

This document sets out the Scottish Government’s response to the key feedback received from the public consultation.

I believe this is an important step setting the path for consideration of what more can be done, in line with the ambition set out in our long-term Population Health Framework, to reduce the health harms caused by poor diet.

Thank you, once again, to everyone who engaged with the consultation last year.

Jenni Minto

Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health