Industry must cut calories in savoury food products by 20%, says Public Health England

Public Health England has challenged manufacturers and restaurants to reduce the calorie content of food products that contribute significantly to children’s energy intake by 20% by 2024. It said that meeting the target would save the NHS £4.5bn (€5bn; $6.2bn) and social care £4.48bn.

PHE’s calorie reduction programme, announced on 6 March, aims to cut calories in foods that are not already covered by restrictions that were placed on sugar in 2016 and is part of the government’s childhood obesity strategy.12 Products covered by the programme include pizza, ready meals, readymade sandwiches, processed meat products, and savoury snacks.

Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at PHE, said, “We know that we need to get to these foods because they …