The Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH) has criticised retailers for selling Easter eggs too early, claiming the practice tempts parents to buy unhealthy treats for their children. The public health body says it is common to find Easter eggs on sale as early as the first week of January, which most people find irritating.
In a survey of 2,000 UK adults, two-thirds said holidays and special occasions are used excessively to sell unhealthy food, while a third said it makes them eat less healthily. More than half of parents reported their child had been tempted by an Easter treat displayed near checkouts, and half of those surveyed had already bought and eaten at least one chocolate Easter egg or cake this year.
Shirley Cramer, chief executive of the RSPH, said: 'We recognise that special occasions such as Easter are a time for indulgence and treats. However, it is clear that many shops and supermarkets are pushing products way too early. If supermarkets are serious about tackling the obesity epidemic, we would urge retailers to change their marketing strategies in the interest of the public's health.'
A 256g Cadbury's chocolate egg contains about 1,375 calories, more than half the recommended daily calorie intake for a woman (2,000kcal) and over half for a man (2,500kcal). With one in four adults and one in five 10 to 11-year-olds in the UK classified as obese, the RSPH says more must be done to reverse these trends. It urges retailers to stop pushing unhealthy products at checkouts, a proposal included in the government's plan to halve childhood obesity in England by 2030.
Andrew Opie, from the British Retail Consortium, defended retailers, saying: 'The bulk of Easter egg purchases are made in the week before Easter as customers scramble to buy eggs for family and friends. However, many of us choose to buy and enjoy eggs even before Easter, and retailers cater to that demand as well.'
