Buy one, get one free offers to be banned in supermarkets on junk food from April 2022 under new Government plans to tackle obesity.
The restrictions will apply to foods high in fat, salt or sugar and includes items such as chocolate and sweets, crisps, soft drinks and sugary milk or juice drinks, cakes, pastries and puddings, biscuits, cereals, yoghurts, pizza, ready meals and chips.
Free refills of sugary soft drinks in restaurants will also be banned.
Retailers will also be told that from the same date they will also need to stop offering promotions on other unhealthy foods in prominent places, such as at checkouts or store entrances.
These changes are understood to block retailers from multibuy promotions such as ‘buy one get one free’ and ‘three for two’ offers on unhealthy products.
End-of-aisle displays can boost soft drinks sales by as much as 50% and Jo Churchill, the public health minister said: “We are restricting promotions and introducing a range of measures to make sure the healthy choice is the easy choice.
“Creating an environment which helps everyone eat healthier foods more regularly is crucial to improving the health of the nation.”
The restrictions on promotions will only apply to businesses employing more than 50 people and the ban on foods in particular locations will apply to stores larger than 2,000 square feet.
The Government also plans to continue with plans announced in July to ban junk food adverts being aired on television before 9pm.
