Conservative manifesto pledges ‘clearer food information’ as it follows Labour in obesity clamp down

The Conservative party says it will champion British food brands looking to export into new markets, while taking action on products which contribute to childhood obesity, if re-elected to form the next UK government.

Its party manifesto, which was released today (April 14), followed Labour in expressing a desire to improve the quality of food information. However, like its main Westminster rival, the pledges, and their possible impact on marketers, are very much open to interpretation.

“We will take action to reduce childhood obesity and continue to promote clear food information,” read the manifesto. Under the Conservative government ‘traffic light’ labeling to give consumers clearer information on the fat and sugar content of products was introduced back in 2013.

“We are already helping people to stay healthy by ending the open display of tobacco in shops, introducing plain-packaged cigarettes and funding local authority public health budgets,” the manifesto adds.

Although 81% of MPs agree that the advertising industry is an important driver of the economy, only 34% believe it remains in touch with its wider responsibilities, according to the Advertising Association, which has repeatedly urged the marketing industry to ‘reverse the lack of trust’ it currently has within Westminster in order to avoid a possible clamp down on the marketing of unhealthy food and drink products.

Today’s Conservative manifesto also includes several pledges to the food industry, with the current government looking to pursue a Great British Food Unit to help trademark and promote British food products around the world, and to back British brands domestically.

“In the coming years, we will go further, helping our farmers, supporting British food around the world and opening up new export markets,” it says.

“We will push for country of origin labelling in Europe, particularly for dairy products, and we will champion our new Groceries Code Adjudicator, so farmers receive a fair deal from the supermarkets.”

The Conservative party has also pledged to secure the delivery of superfast broadband to 95% of the UK by the end of 2017, while insisting it will ensure Britain “seizes the chance to be a world leader in the development of 5G.”

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