Video will play in Play now Don't auto playNever auto playSupermarkets are cutting confectionery from checkouts, giving away free fruit, and rolling out a health star rating for products in a bid to combat childhood obesity. Both companies have committed to reviewing home-brand products and where necessary, reducing sugar, salt and saturated fat to provide healthier options for consumers. There has been growing awareness around the issue of childhood obesity with the United Nations releasing a report in January which stated that the world was facing a global epidemic in childhood obesity with the number of overweight children under the age of 5 predicted to jump to as high as 70 million over the next decade. "To date we have 40 per cent of the brand's 1500 products carrying health star ratings and we are now committed to completing the rollout to the entire portfolio by the end of 2018," Anderson said. Both chains would review and update targets annually and Harford said that the door was open for other food retailers to join the Retail NZ pledge.

Source: New Zealand Herald October 16, 2016 20:57 UTC