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The Belgian government has reached an agreement with Belgian food federation Fevia, and Comeos, the federation for trade and services, to reduce the calorie content of food and drink products by 5% before the end of 2017.
The agreement was signed by health minister Maggie De Block, and sets out two-year objectives for making the range of products available to Belgian consumers more healthy. Manufacturers will achieve the 5% reduction by lowering the amount of fat and sugar in their products, the government said.
Additionally, they will boost the nutritional quality of food wherever possible by adding more fibre, or eliminating saturated fats.
The overall objective is for companies in the food and beverage industry to continue their work in reducing the fat and sugar content of food and drinks since 2012, working towards a new measurable target and agreeing additional commitments if the initial targets are met.
De Block said: “Everyone should take responsibility when it comes to a healthy, balanced diet: every citizen as well as government and industry. I thank the Belgian food industry for their commitment. This agreement is an important step in our overall plan that we are working together on with the federal states. Some actions of our global supply plan are already well-established… other pieces of the puzzle are being put into place, and we have reached a good package of measures that will ensure our people can eat healthily.”
The move is described as being “part of a broader approach to health”, and could also incorporate reductions in portion sizes and increased investment in communications to make consumers aware of the importance of a balanced diet.
“Belgian food companies are focusing on quality, diversity and innovation,” said Fevia chairman Jean Eylenbosch. “Two in three food companies in Belgium last year changed the composition of at least one of their products. Innovation thus provides greater choice and makes it easier for consumers to choose a balanced diet. At the same time we must make sure that we maintain the quality and taste that consumers expect from Belgian food.”
And Dominique Michel, CEO of Comeos, said: “Traders play a dual role: they sell products from others and, in addition, they produce as much as one-third of the products in stores. With this agreement, retailers, restaurant chains and catering companies are included in the responsibility. Information and awareness is also crucial: we realise that we are not just going to solve the obesity problem by adjusting the formulation. A healthy lifestyle is a combination of factors, including a balanced diet and adequate exercise. We are committed to contribute to this together with these partners, but consumers also play an important role.”
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