Press Release

Retail Healthy Eating Report "Misleading"

1 September 2008 

A report on supermarkets and healthy eating, published today (Monday), uses misleading comparisons to unfairly criticise retailers’ records on encouraging healthier food choices - says the British Retail Consortium (BRC). 

Based on a one-off snapshot of promotions in one English city last March, the National Consumer Council (NCC) report, Cut-price, What cost? claims stores cut the prices of more fatty and sugary foods than fruit and vegetables.

The BRC is condemning the NCC for ignoring the fact that promotions are balanced across the year. Fruit and vegetables are promoted all year but more heavily in spring and summer when supplies are more plentiful, while ‘treat’ food promotions are more common at Easter and Christmas.

The NCC report is particularly misleading because this year’s figures were gathered at Easter but are being compared with 2006 figures collected in July.

BRC Food Director Andrew Opie said:  “This report rightly recognises the huge numbers of discounts and promotions retailers are offering cash-strapped customers and their achievements in informing customers and reformulating products.

“But the NCC’s one-off March snapshot is misleading. Customers will have seen for themselves the current high-profile supermarket price war centred on fruit and vegetables.

“Of course ‘treat’ foods are on offer at Easter. What matters is the balance of promotions across the year. The NCC would find a different picture in summer. It’s clearly a nonsense to compare March 2008 with July 2006.

“Retailers continue to develop healthier recipes but that has to go at a pace customers are comfortable with. No-one gains if customers reject new versions as bland or tasteless.

“Thanks to retailers, customers have more information available to them, including on pack fronts, to help them make healthier eating choices.  Nutritious, affordable food is actually cheaper than ten years ago.

“This ill-informed report will not distract us from our work with the Food Standards Agency and Department of Health on tackling obesity, work for which UK retailers are recognised as European leaders.”