In Britain, the size of a ready-made chicken curry dish has doubled in twenty years. Same increase in volume for packets of cakes and crisps … No wonder that a third of British children and two thirds of adults are Overweight.
The British Heart Foundation is alarmed in a report taken up by The Guardian of this uncontrolled growth in food sold by the food industry.
According to her, this phenomenon would partly explain why more and more Britons are suffering from overweight or obesity, but also from diseases associated with a diet that is too fatty and sugary (diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol).
The foundation compared the sizes of portions and food packaging of 245 products sold in stores to their equivalent sold in 1993. Their study confirms this tendency of manufacturers to increase the quantities sold. A bag of peanuts, for example, is 80% larger than in 1993.
Labeling to review
It is difficult for the consumer to know exactly how much he is eating and to control his diet, because in Great Britain the mention of weight is not compulsory on all packaging. “It is important that the amounts per serving are indicated because the more food is presented to people, the more they eat,” Simon Gillepsie, chairman of the British Heart Foundation, told The Guardian.
“The UK government has not updated its labeling for 20 years and there is no legislation regarding standard serving sizes. An update of labels by manufacturers is needed so that consumers can make choices. healthier choices in their diet “.
In France, no study has been carried out on the evolution of packaging. It is a safe bet that the conclusions would converge with those of the British insofar as, even if the weight is necessarily indicated on the containers, consumers do not necessarily pay attention.