LiveLighter calls on supermarkets to ditch confectionary

30/08/2014

WA’s nation-leading LiveLighter campaign has called for Australia’s major supermarket chains to follow the example of the UK’s supermarket giants and ditch confectionary at checkouts in favour of healthy foods.

Aldi in the UK has joined Lidl, Tesco, Co-op and Sainsbury’s in trialling healthier checkouts by stocking dried fruits, nuts, juices and water [1].

“The LiveLighter campaign is calling on Australia’s major supermarket chains to help the community tackle our growing epidemic of overweight and obesity,” said Maurice Swanson, Chief Executive of the Heart Foundation in Western Australia.

“In WA, more than two in three adults are either overweight or obese, and 25 per cent of 12 to 17-year-olds are overweight or obese.

“This change will help parents deal with children’s pester power at supermarket checkouts, but will also reduce pressure on adults to make inappropriate purchases.

“Our leading supermarkets continually market themselves as the providers of fresh, wholesome food, and this is an opportunity for them to step up to the plate to help reduce obesity in the community,” said Mr Swanson.

He said supermarkets in Western Australia should also seriously consider ending immediately their end-of-aisle promotion of junk food and sugary drinks.

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Media contact:
Mr Maurice Swanson
T: (08) 9382 5901
E: media@livelighter.com.au

[1] http://www.confectionerynews.com/Markets/Aldi-bans-confectionery-at-UK-checkouts