SUPERMARKETS in Scotland are contributing to the obesity epidemic with 'multi-buy' promotions that entice consumers into buying more food than they need, according to Government advisers.
A new report by the Sustainable Development Commission Scotland claims that the five portions of fruit and vegetables a day health message cannot succeed while high-calorie, low-nutrient processed foods are promoted aggressively, making fresh produce
appear expensive and unappealing by comparison.
The Commission, the official adviser to the First Minister on sustainable environmental policies, also criticises supermarkets for over-packaging and using non-recyclable packaging, contributing to the mountain of waste poured into landfill sites every year.
It also berates the Scottish and UK Governments for not being tough enough on tackling the climate-changing gas emissions produced by supermarkets and their customers. Too much food is being flown in from abroad, it says, and consumers are encouraged to use cars to go food shopping by planning laws that site shops out of town and allow the provision of free car parks.
The Commission insists multi-buy promotions, such as two-for-one offers, are fuelling the epidemic.
"Buy one get one free (Bogof) offers are usually of high-fat, high-sugar, additive-laden products which are obesity in a box," said Hugh Raven, Scotland's Sustainable Development Commissioner. "Why do we not see more of this on fresh fruit and vegetables rather than on foods that add to people's weight problems?
"The Government must encourage supermarkets to shift the balance towards healthier foods."
Obesity-related conditions are now estimated to cost the UK up to £10bn a year through NHS treatment and loss of earnings. On current trends, the figure is expected to rise to £50bn by 2050.
Around 25% of the population is already considered clinically obese, with a higher percentage among children. Obesity is linked with a range of conditions including hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and gallstones.
The Commission says production, transportation, refrigeration and disposal of waste packaging account for one-fifth of the average household's emissions of climate-changing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. Yet past and current planning policies mitigated against reductions in emissions.
"Too much food – such as green beans from Kenya – is still being flown in," said Raven. "But a major problem is that supermarkets have habituated consumers into doing the vast bulk of their food shopping by car, a relatively recent phenomenon in the UK.
"Four out of five people now say they expect to do their food shopping by car even though we live in a highly urbanised society with good public transport."
The Government should encourage retailers to invest in their high street outlets rather than out-of-town malls. "The problem is that the infrastructure is already there so people will use it," Raven said. "But there could be more home delivery and no more out-of-town shopping malls.
"The food distribution chain makes a huge and disproportionate impact on emissions, on which the Government has ambitious targets," he added. "It is inconceivable they will reach those targets unless they interact more forcibly with the supermarkets."
Food retailers said they were committed to both helping reduce obesity rates and tackling climate change.
A spokesman for Asda said the company was "continually looking at new ways of working in an attempt to reduce (their] global impact".
He added: "We are also constantly looking at ways we can help tackle the nation's obesity problems. "We will review any recommendations by the Sustainable Development Commission, making any changes where possible."
A Tesco spokesman said it was already working hard to introduce green initiatives. "There is plenty more for Tesco and others to do and we welcome the report's recognition of the role of Government in enabling and incentivising retailers to go further in meeting the challenges of sustainability."
The Scottish Government said it welcomed the Commission's report as part of the national debate on food policy.
Richard Lochhead, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, said: "We will be studying this report on the Government's role in supporting sustainable supermarket food with interest. We will consider carefully the findings and recommendations alongside the responses we receive to our ongoing national discussion on a food policy for Scotland."
Lochhead said the Government had already held a constructive initial meeting with supermarkets on green issues last year. "We have already met with a number of supermarket chief executives and plan to hold a discussion event with retailers on the national food policy in April and also a supermarket summit later this year."
