M&S and Asda attack Labour’s plan to spy on shoppers’ baskets

Stuart Machin, the Marks & Spencer boss, is one of several retail bosses to oppose the Government’s calorie-counting drive - M&S Supermarket chiefs and food industry bosses have criticised “nanny state” healthy eating plans that will force shops to count customers’ calories. Stuart Machin, the Marks & Spencer chief executive, Allan Leighton, the Asda boss, and senior food executives have broken cover to voice their opposition to the Government’s plans to tackle Britain’s obesity crisis. Industry chiefs criticised the Government for rushing through the proposals without proper consultation and said the extra red tape would lead to higher prices on shelves. Executives have also warned that loopholes mean the plan risk failing to address the obesity crisis. Under new proposals unveiled last weekend, ministers will demand shops cut up to 100 calories from the average shopping basket or risk fines.

Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, said the plan would “make the healthy choice the easy choice, because prevention is better than cure” when it came to weight. The measures will be central to Labour’s 10-year plan to improve the nation’s health, which is expected to be published this week. However, speaking publicly for the first time, the bosses of some of Britain’s largest supermarkets and food businesses said the red tape would do little to tackle obesity. M&S’s Mr Machin said the proposals “will likely add cost with no discernible improvement in public health”. Mr Leighton, Asda’s executive chairman, urged ministers to “consider the cumulative regulatory burden and costs supermarkets are already bearing to deliver other aspects of the Government’s policy agenda”.Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, argues that more information on calorie content could help shoppers make healthier choices - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Getty Ranjit Boparan, the tycoon nicknamed the “Chicken King” and who runs 2 Sisters Food Group, one of Britain’s biggest food producers, said: “It’s more red tape and it’s going to cost money.

Ultimately that will pass through to consumers who are already struggling.” Adam Couch, the boss of pork giant Cranswick, said he was concerned at the wave of regulation facing businesses, which threatened to deter companies from investing. He said: “There’s so much money wishing to be unlocked there for investment and creating really well paid jobs. Don’t just throw regulation out there.” The warnings comes amid a row over how Labour announced the proposals. Supermarket chiefs found out about the plans just hours before they were announced. Labour fails to consult businesses Insiders on Sunday claimed they had been blind sided by the measures, accusing ministers of failing to properly consult with the industry.

Mr Boparan said the plans had “come out of the blue”, adding that Labour’s handling of the healthy eating proposals was “just typical for this Government”. Story Continues Supermarket bosses and food chiefs said they were supportive of efforts to encourage more healthy eating but accused ministers of failing to work with the industry. Mr Leighton said: “Engaging us collectively and genuinely to meet the challenge of rising obesity would harness that expertise to deliver tangible and lasting outcomes for consumers.”Asda boss Allan Leighton feels the new policy will create unnecessary red tape for retailers - Eddie Mullholland Mr Machin said M&S had long promoted healthy eating under its Eat Well range and would “love to share our learnings with the government and support a joint industry effort”. Supermarket bosses are frustrated that the rules announced at the weekend appeared to only target their industry. Mr Machin said: “The easy opt-out is to target supermarkets, when almost half of the public use takeaways and fast-food delivery platforms at least once a week.

And it is just plain wrong that they are ignoring alcohol, when a pint of beer contains as many calories as a chocolate bar and a glass of wine as many as a bag of crisps. “We were supposed to have a detailed food strategy that looked at the food system end-to-end – instead it appears we’ve got rushed engagement on a Friday afternoon to support headlines in the Sunday papers.” Ministers have claimed that regulations will apply to all food companies, including restaurants and large fast food chains. However, those plans are understood to be at an earlier stage. Mr Leighton said: “We are supportive of prevention and our role in delivering it. We – the supermarkets – are part of the solution, not the problem.” View Comments