Retail representative body EuroCommerce has released a new report, Retail and Wholesale – working for a healthy lifestyle, which outlines retailers' and wholesalers' commitments to help consumers make informed choices as part of a healthier lifestyle.
The new report provides a snapshot of a wide range of initiatives by EuroCommerce members to support a better diet and a healthier lifestyle.
In 2014, half of EU adults (52%) were considered overweight, and one in six clinically obese. Unhealthy diets and lack of physical activity play a significant role in European consumers’ health and well-being, the report found.
Consumer Education
EuroCommerce Director-General Christian Verschueren, said, “Retailers and wholesalers can help consumers make healthy choices suited to their personal lifestyles and specific preferences, and are doing so by providing a wide range of products to choose from, through better nutrition labelling, consumer information, and also by reformulating products to reduce salt, sugar and fat.
“However, this needs the engagement of everyone: public authorities, manufacturers – and the consumer: the trend of growing obesity can only be reversed if individuals are encouraged to adopt more active lifestyles.“
British MEP Julie Girling, who has been very active in the area of food and nutrition, said, “I welcome the involvement of the retail and wholesale sector in the fight against obesity.
“Improving EU consumers’ diets and lifestyle requires a multi-faceted approach. Both public authorities and industry have an important role to play in consumer education to efficiently tackle this serious, and growing, problem for all our citizens.”
EuroCommerce recently criticised the EU’s new Organic Production Regulation, saying that it could impose controls on retailers and wholesalers, which would deter organic offerings.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Aidan O'Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
