UK Supermarkets Call for Extension on New HFSS Laws

In the UK, supermarket retailers are concerned the new proposed deadline of October 2022 for incoming HFSS legislation does not give them enough time to get their houses in order, FoodNavigator reported this week.  The legislation contains regulations on foods high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS).  

The new HFSS rules will see media and promotional restrictions applied to ‘unhealthy products’. Bans will be placed on volume productions, such as buy-one-get-one frees and two-for-one-deals, for such products. HFSS products will be barred from secondary promotional locations in stores, such as end of aisle displays, store entrances and checkouts.  The legislations also prohibit the marketing of such products on TV (pre-9pm) and online.  

New rules were initially tabled for April 22 enforcement.  The government has since extended its deadline to six months later in October 2022.  However, recent findings from a survey conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Spoon Guru, a tech supplier to the retail sector, suggest the October deadline is much too early for supermarkets.