'Unhealthy' meal deals should be BANNED from stores, health expert warns
'UNHEALTHY' meal deals should be BANNED in a bid to combat Britain's obesity crisis, a health expert has warned.
It comes as Britain is on course to become the fattest country in Europe by 2033, fueled by our eating habits.
A damning report last week warned that levels of wasting will rise by a third in ten years – with almost four in 10 adults being obese.
Britain currently holds the title of tubbiest country in Western Europe, with 27.8 percent of Britons dangerously overweight.
In an effort to break the bingeing behavior of the British, health expert Dr. Donal O'Shea said stores such as Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury's, ASDA and Morrisons should be banned from selling Meal Deals.
He claims they only contain unhealthy food options and “literally should be illegal.”
He told The Pat Kenny Show: 'The industry has the statistics and they know how to encourage and promote consumption, and 70% of people will say no the first time, but if the person behind the counter says, ' Are you sure? a good offer.' Then another 30% say 'ah yes, go ahead'.
“They're actually trained because the industry has the statistics and they know how to drive consumption. We just have to be very aware of that and try to resist it.
“Those who buy one get one free. Offers are always on things with a lot of fat, a lot of salt and a lot of sugar, never with fruit.”
It comes as compassionate plans to ban buy-one-get-free deals on junk food were dumped yesterday in a huge win for The Sun.
Proposals by the nanny state to make it illegal to advertise sweet treats on television before 9pm have been shelved after a huge backlash.
And restrictions on free refills of fizzy drinks have been torn apart.
This move is the first major announcement to ease the cost of living for struggling families.
Ministers said the plans had been put on hold for a year amid growing fears of a global economic slump.
But government insiders believe they have been demolished for good.
Health Minister Maggie Throup said: “We are doing everything we can to help people live healthier lives.
“Suspending restrictions on 'buy one, get one free' deals will allow us to understand their impact on consumers in light of an unprecedented global economic situation.”
A Department of Health spokesperson said: “We are currently implementing an ambitious program to halve childhood obesity by 2030 by motivating people to choose healthier food options.
“Obesity costs the NHS more than £6 billion a year and tackling this problem will save billions of pounds, putting it on a sustainable financial footing as we work to repair and reform the healthcare system.”