Food Standards Scotland Responds to reports of rising figures of people with Type 2 Diabetes in Scotland

Heather Peace, Head of Nutrition Science and Policy at Food Standards Scotland said: “It is clear that obesity is one of the most serious problems we face in Scotland. Serious illnesses such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and a number of cancers are linked to over eating and our poor diet. We recognise that there’s no single ‘silver bullet’ solution to this problem, which is why Food Standards Scotland has put forward a broad range of measures to tackle Scotland’s diet.

“A healthy diet and being a healthy weight are central to preventing Type 2 diabetes and supporting people to make healthy choices is key. The predicted figures for rising Type 2 diabetes and obesity highlight the urgent need for action to improve the Scottish diet.

“Our recommendations include the provision of advice and information for consumers together with measures to increase in healthier options, restrict promotion of high fat, sugar and salt foods, provide  calorie labelling on menus and reduce portion sizes. In our view, regulation would create a level playing field for industry, and without it, we face the very real prospect of increasing diet-related ill health and unsustainable burdens on the NHS and our economy.”