War on saturated fat begins

A new campaign to take on saturated fat has been launched today by the Food Standards Agency.

It is estimated that people in the UK eat on average 20% more saturated fat than is recommended.

The campaign aims to promote a range of simple, positive and practical steps that people can take to help improve their health and reduce their risk of developing heart disease.

Food Standards Agency Chief Executive Tim Smith said: "There are simple ways we can cut down the amount of saturated fat we all eat and protect our health. We need to eat leaner meat and a bit less cheese, switch to lower-fat milks and eat healthier snacks, cutting down on cakes and biscuits.

"Supermarkets and manufacturers have done some good work, so that now when we're shopping there is an increasing range of lower-saturated-fat foods available and better labelling, and we'd like to see more of this. It is important that we work together to increase the variety of healthier foods available and continue to address this important public health issue together."

Julian Hunt, Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Director of Communications, said: "Members of the Food and Drink Federation are actively looking at how they can help consumers lower their intakes of saturated fat – and new data from independent market researchers TNS Worldpanel show there have been real changes in consumer purchasing behaviour in categories such as canned goods, frozen prepared foods, ice-cream and frozen puddings, savoury snacks, and yellow fats and milk."

Helen McCallum, Director of Policy and Communications at Which? said: "It's essential that this is backed up by increased efforts to help consumers cut down on saturated fat. We still need clear and consistent labelling of levels on front of pack, reductions in the amounts manufacturers, retailers and caterers use in foods and more information about what is in the food on offer when eating out."

Words: Clare Riley

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