The European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) is calling on the UK Government to make sure that new restrictions on products high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) introduced as part of obesity reduction efforts do not affect specialist food products such as sports nutrition.
ESSA adds that… ‘The Government must clearly define what products will be regulated as HFSS and issue a clear list of exemptions for products intended for sportspeople to avoid confusing industry and consumers.
‘Sports nutrition products play a key-role in supporting healthy, active lifestyle. Their benefits are well documented and their marketing is clear in explaining the right conditions of use. ESSNA has urged the Government to ensure that the promotion of sport and physical activity, as well as balanced diets, remains at the core of government policy.’
Dr Adam Carey, Chair of ESSNA, said “There is a serious gap in the upcoming regulation of HFSS products in the UK; at the moment, we do not know whether the Government’s proposal is based on the Nutrient Profile Model (NPM), which looks at food composition while disregarding the specific purpose sports nutrition products serve.
“These products are, by design, made with higher levels of certain nutrients to cater to the specific needs of people engaged in high intensity exercise and other forms of activity, and the benefits of these products are very well documented in scientific literature.
“The Government’s strategy is to tackle childhood obesity. Blanket restrictions without appropriate exemptions and guidance for enforcers and businesses risk damaging a multitude of specialist food sectors, such as the sports nutrition industry, which play a key role in supporting the government objectives of a healthier, fitter Britain.
He continued, “Sports nutrition products are by no means identifiable as HFSS and are not targeted at children. They are intended for adults leading active lifestyles. Sports nutrition products provide clear information and labelling to ensure that consumers have access to safe products and can make healthy, informed choices.
“The Government needs to provide adequate guidance to enforcement authorities in respect to the products that fall within the scope of the proposed legislation and clearly outline that specialist products, including high protein bars and carbohydrate-electrolyte drinks, should be exempt from HFSS restrictions.
“ESSNA fully supports the UK Government’s goal to tackle obesity and improve people’s diets. For instance, our consumer education campaign which works to ensure consumers are well-informed on sports nutrition products, has been very successful since its launch in 2016. We urge the UK Government to acknowledge and support the contribution of sports nutrition industry on the promotion of healthy diets and active lifestyles.”
The UK Government is introducing legislation to tackle childhood obesity, restricting the promotion of product categories that are significant contributors to children’s sugar and calorie intakes. The Government launched a public consultation to investigate, among other issues, the scope of the categories and products that should be subject to the restrictions.
ESSNA, the ‘voice of the specialist sports and active nutrition sector in Europe’, participated in the consultation to ensure that food products intended for sports people would not be caught by the restrictions and to bring to the forefront the role that sports nutrition can play in helping consumers to lead healthy lifestyles.
The proposed legislation does not specify whether the restriction of specific food products to tackle childhood obesity will be based on the Nutrient Profile Model (NPM), which would result in food products intended for sports people being unintentionally affected by the restrictions. ESSNA believes that sports nutrition products should not be defined as HFSS.
ESSNA urges the Government to clarify what model will be used for the definition of the product categories that contribute to childhood obesity and to provide clear exemptions for sports nutrition products.
