A new report has been published to support the Welsh food industry produce healthier products.

The Food for the Future report highlights that intakes of fat, sugar and salt in Wales currently exceed recommended amounts. Immediate action is called for to address these issues and reduce the risks associated with food related health complications among consumers.

The report discusses the regulation of marketing, furthering nutritional education and the likely effectiveness of implementing a sugar tax, and explore how these may impact positively on choices made by consumers.

It finds that as there is a cumulative responsibility shared between the consumer, food and drink sector, Welsh government and wider society, there may ultimately be a need to consider the development of a Food and Nutrition Strategy Wales in order to address some of these issues more comprehensively.

Among the report’s 14 key recommendations are:

• Research the possibility of establishing a world leading healthier product reformulation capability in Wales
• Explore the potential to strengthen the links between research (eg nutrition, biochemistry and food technology) and industry to enable Welsh businesses to commercialise and be first to market with healthier products
• Provide an easily accessible and affordable support framework for companies who are reformulating products to make them healthier.

The Welsh government’s deputy minister for farming and food, Rebecca Evans, says, “Through the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, the Welsh government has already shown its commitment to creating a healthier and more prosperous Wales.

“I am pleased that the report has a wide ranging vision of trying to nurture a strong and innovative Welsh food sector that can provide sustainable, safe, affordable and healthy food of the highest standard, with positive economic and social benefits, along with the lowest environmental impacts.”