Will the Welsh Government be taking steps to regulate sugar and salt in the food industry to combat obesity?
The Welsh Government currently fund Food Innovation Wales and Project Helix to provide technical support to Welsh businesses to enable them to reformulate products to reduce sugar and salt.
Following the consultation on Healthy Food Environments last year, I also set out my intention to bring forward subordinate legislation in 2024 to restrict the placement and price promotion of products high in fat, sugar and salt, including meal deals to make options available to consumers healthier and temporary price reductions. We are on track to lay those regulations in the autumn of 2024.
We will also explore what is possible in terms of Welsh taxation powers on discretionary foods high in fat, salt and sugar if the pace of reformulation does not meet expectation. This will help create a level playing field to ensure that all producers and retailers are working towards the same aims.