§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government is taking with regard to the adulteration of processing food with fats and sugars. [130120]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThere is NHS Plan (2000) commitment to work with industry to improve the overall balance of the diet, including salt, fat and sugar in food. The Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency are in discussions with the food industry on reducing the level of salt in processed foods and work on added sugars and fat will follow through 2003–04.
There is wider on-going action to help address the overall balance of the diet. The Department is leading the development of a comprehensive Food and Health Action Plan, working across Government and with the food industry to establish a coherent and effective programme of activities on nutrition in order to achieve a healthier diet for people in England. The plan will pull together all of the issues that influence what we eat and will address:
production—including the manufacture and preparation of food which contribute most to a healthy dietsupply—including access to healthier foodinformation for consumers about healthy eating and nutrition.