Danone CEO, Antoine Mayer, has called for increased measures to promote healthier food choices, including the imposition of higher taxes on junk food products. Mayer’s remarks come as part of a broader critique of the UK food industry, which he argued has been too slow to improve the healthiness of the products it offers. As Mayer told The Guardian: “We’ve reached a point where meaningful intervention from the government is a necessary course of action.”
Mayer also called for clearer definitions of what constitutes healthy products, arguing that government intervention is essential to incentivize the food and beverage industry to create more sustainable, nutritious alternatives. This would likely involve greater data sharing and transparency around food production, as well as restrictions on advertising for high-fat, high-salt, and high-sugar foods. Mayer suggested aligning VAT rates with the health credentials of products as another possible measure.
The criticism echoes recent comments from health bodies and industry pressure groups, which have accused the government of failing to address the growing obesity crisis and delaying the proposed ban on junk food adverts before 9pm on TV and online. Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, criticized the government for prioritizing short-term political gain over public health.
Despite these concerns, some companies are taking action to create healthier options for consumers. Nestlé recently launched a HFSS compliant dessert, while 30% of Walkers’ sales now come from healthier snack choices. However, as Mayer’s comments suggest, more significant industry-wide changes are needed to promote sustainability and healthier choices.
