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Taxpayers' money is being handed to fast-food firms such as Nestle and PepsiCo while ministers fail to tackle the obesity crisis, a damning study says. Huge corporations are among those being given grants worth hundreds of thousands of pounds while the NHS faces a growing burden from illnesses linked to weight gain. One firm was given almost £500,000 to help improve its chocolate while others were handed large sums to make biscuits or sell ice cream. Taxpayers' money is being handed to fast-food firms such as  PepsiCo as the UK fails to tackle its ongoing obesity crisis. The revelations, contained in a study led by the UK Coronary Prevention Group, has sparked fresh claims that the Government is too close to food firms and is doing ‘too little’ to tackle the £47billion annual cost of obesity. The charity said seven in ten middle-aged adults are overweight despite the millions spent on the Government’s anti-obesity strategy and it has called for a radical overhaul of healthy-eating policies. Its report identified a string of occasions when public cash was given to firms who make millions marketing junk food for projects that undermine public health. £86,472 from public funds to help companies make confectionery wafer biscuits. £31,000 government grant to help a farmer convert a barn into an ice cream shop. £637,812 handout to help a company improve its chocolate blending equipment. £24,750 to develop 3-D chocolate printing for personalised gifts. 0%VAT charged on unhealthy cake mix, drinking chocolate and salt – compared with 20 per cent levied on mineral water and healthy snacks such as roast almonds and dried fruit. It found the Government’s Technology Strategy Board gave £637,812 to a joint project with Mondelez – the parent company of Cadbury – for ‘confectionary production’. Another grant of £487,268 was given to Nestec, part of Nestle, to research ‘chocolate cooling technology’. The board also put £356,076 into a joint project with PepsiCo to research dehydrated snacks. Meanwhile, the Rural Development Programme for England gave two grants in 2010 – £12,500 towards biscuit production and £11,400 to help convert a barn into a chocolate-making unit. The year before, the quango handed over £143,000 to convert a farm building for ice cream production. The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council put £100,173 into a project designed to improve the ‘sensory properties’ of confectionary wafers. Some £180,000 went on two other projects involving wafers. The UK Coronary Prevention Group says the Government has ‘failed’ on obesity and ‘done too little’ to tackle dietary habits. UK Coronary Prevention Group said seven in ten middle-aged adults are overweight despite the millions spent on the Government’s anti-obesity strategy and it has called for a radical overhaul of healthy-eating policies. Professor Philip James, chairman of the charity’s trustees, said: ‘Some of these grants are greater than the amounts spent by local health services tackling overweight in adults and children.’ The group has now identified 200 measures including a ban on fast-food outlets near schools and business-rate cuts for alternatives offering healthy dishes. Supermarkets would also be required to offer price promotions on healthy food, while there would be strict controls on all food sold in schools and hospitals. The report comes after it emerged last month that the Government’s anti-obesity drive was being overseen by a firm that also helps promote fast food. PR business Freud Communications earns £3million a year to run crucial public-health campaigns – including Change4Life – while also working with companies including Mars, KFC, PepsiCo and Walkers crisps. Experts claim that thousands by putting a health tax of 12p a can on sugary drinks. Researchers have claimed that rather than giving taxpayer funds to fast food firms, the government should be putting up the price of full sugar drinks like Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Experts at the University of Liverpool and the Children’s Food Campaign claim that thousands of cases of diabetes and cancer could be avoided, saving the NHS £300million, by putting a health tax of 12p a can on sugary drinks. The academics' work will fuel the growing campaign to extend the principle of a duty on unhealthy products from cigarettes and alcohol to some types of drink and food. Health campaigners and doctors have controversially likened sugar and its contribution to obesity and ill-health as the ‘new tobacco’. The Liverpool team calculates that a tax of 20p per litre – 12p per can – would reduce the number of cases of diabetes by just under 50,000 over 20 years. They estimate there would be a fall of 33,000 in cases of stroke and heart disease and some 9,000 fewer victims of bowel cancer. These figures relate to England alone and the researchers estimate it would lead to savings of £300m in the cost of treating these people over the 20 years, releasing money for other patients.
A study found thousands of pounds were being given to junk food firms.
Nestle was given almost £500,000 to help improve its chocolate making.
PepsiCo was handed a further £350,000 for on research dehydrated snacks.
Revelation comes as NHS struggles with the £47bn annual cost of obesity.
It has sparked fresh claims that the government is too close to food firms.
Skriv höjdpunkter för denna artikel: Skattebetalarnas pengar lämnas till snabbmatsföretag som Nestlé och PepsiCo medan ministrarna misslyckas med att ta itu med fetmakrisen, säger en fördömande studie. Enorma företag är bland dem som får bidrag som är värda hundratusentals pund, medan NHS står inför en växande börda från sjukdomar som är kopplade till viktökning. En firma fick nästan 500 000 pund för att hjälpa till att förbättra sin choklad, medan andra fick stora summor för att göra kex eller sälja glass. Skattebetalarnas pengar går till snabbmatsföretag som PepsiCo eftersom Storbritannien inte lyckas ta itu med sin pågående fetmakris. Avslöjandena, som ingår i en studie ledd av Förenade kungarikets Coronary Prevention Group, har gett upphov till nya påståenden om att regeringen står för nära livsmedelsföretagen och gör ”för lite” för att ta itu med de 47 miljarder pund som årligen kostar fetma. Välgörenhet sade sju av tio medelålders vuxna är överviktiga trots de miljoner som spenderas på regeringens anti-fetlighet strategi och det har krävt en radikal översyn av hälsosam ätande politik. I rapporten identifierades en rad tillfällen då offentliga medel gavs till företag som tillverkar miljoner som marknadsför skräpmat för projekt som undergräver folkhälsan. 86 472 pund från offentliga medel för att hjälpa företag att göra konfektyrkakor. 31.000 pund i statsbidrag för att hjälpa en bonde att bygga om en lada till en glassbutik. £637,812 allmosa för att hjälpa ett företag att förbättra sin choklad blandningsutrustning. 24 750 pund för att utveckla 3D-chokladtryck för personliga gåvor. 0 % moms på ohälsosam kakmix, choklad och salt – jämfört med 20 % på mineralvatten och hälsosamma snacks som rostad mandel och torkad frukt. Regeringens styrelse för teknikstrategi gav 637,812 pund till ett gemensamt projekt med Mondelez – moderbolaget till Cadbury – för ”konfektyrproduktion”. Ytterligare ett anslag på 487.268 pund beviljades Nestec, en del av Nestlé, för forskning om ”chokladkylningsteknik”. Styrelsen lade också ner £356.076 i ett gemensamt projekt med PepsiCo för att forska uttorkade snacks. Samtidigt gav programmet för landsbygdsutveckling i England två bidrag under 2010 – 12 500 pund till kextillverkning och 11 400 pund till att omvandla en lada till en chokladtillverkad enhet. Året innan överlämnade kvangon 143 000 pund för att konvertera en gårdsbyggnad för glasstillverkning. Forskningsrådet för bioteknik och biologi lade ner 100 173 pund på ett projekt som syftar till att förbättra de ”sensoriska egenskaperna” hos konfektyrplattor. Omkring 180 000 pund gick till två andra projekt som gällde plattor. Den brittiska gruppen för förebyggande av korruption säger att regeringen har ”misslyckats” med fetma och ”gjort för lite” för att ta itu med kostvanorna. UK Coronary Prevention Group sade sju av tio medelålders vuxna är överviktiga trots de miljoner som spenderas på regeringens anti-fetlighet strategi och det har krävt en radikal översyn av hälsosam ätande politik. Professor Philip James, ordförande för välgörenhetsorganisationernas förvaltare, sade: ”En del av dessa bidrag är större än de belopp som används av lokala hälso- och sjukvårdstjänster som hanterar övervikt hos vuxna och barn.” Gruppen har nu identifierat 200 åtgärder, bland annat ett förbud mot snabbmatsbutiker nära skolor och affärssänkningar för alternativ som erbjuder hälsosamma rätter. Stormarknaderna skulle också vara tvungna att erbjuda prisfrämjande åtgärder för hälsosamma livsmedel, samtidigt som det skulle finnas strikta kontroller av all mat som säljs på skolor och sjukhus. Rapporten kommer efter det att det förra månaden framkom att regeringens anti-fetikdrift övervakades av ett företag som också hjälper till att främja snabbmat. PR-branschen Freud Communications tjänar 3 miljoner pund om året för att driva viktiga folkhälsokampanjer – bland annat Change4Life – samtidigt som de arbetar med företag som Mars, KFC, PepsiCo och Walkers chips. Experter hävdar att tusentals genom att sätta en hälsoskatt på 12p a burk på söta drycker. Forskare har hävdat att i stället för att ge skattebetalarna medel till snabbmatsföretag, bör regeringen sätta upp priset på fulla sockerdrycker som Coca-Cola och Pepsi. Experter vid University of Liverpool och Children’s Food Campaign hävdar att tusentals fall av diabetes och cancer skulle kunna undvikas, vilket skulle spara de 300 miljoner punden i NHS genom att införa en hälsoskatt på 12p a burk på söta drycker. De akademiska forskarnas arbete kommer att underblåsa den växande kampanjen för att utvidga principen om en tull på ohälsosamma produkter från cigaretter och alkohol till vissa typer av drycker och livsmedel. Hälsokampanjörer och läkare har kontroversiellt liknat socker och dess bidrag till fetma och ohälsa som den ”nya tobaken”. Liverpools team beräknar att en skatt på 20p per liter – 12p per burk – skulle minska antalet fall av diabetes med knappt 50 000 över 20 år. De beräknar att det skulle bli en minskning med 33.000 i fall av stroke och hjärtsjukdomar och omkring 9.000 färre offer för tarmcancer. Dessa siffror gäller enbart England och forskarna uppskattar att det skulle leda till besparingar på 300 miljoner pund i kostnaden för att behandla dessa människor under de 20 åren, frigöra pengar för andra patienter.
Write highlights for this article: Taxpayers' money is left to fast food companies such as Nestlé and PepsiCo while ministers fail to deal with the obesity crisis, says a condemnation study. Huge companies are among those receiving subsidies worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, while NHS faces a growing burden from diseases associated with weight gain. One firm received nearly £500,000 to help improve its chocolate, while others received large sums to make biscuits or sell ice cream. Taxpayers' money goes to fast food companies such as PepsiCo because the UK fails to address its ongoing obesity crisis. The disclosures, which are part of a study led by the UK Coronary Prevention Group, have given rise to new claims that the government stands too close to food businesses and is doing ‘too little’ to address the £47 billion that annually cost obesity. Charity said seven out of ten middle-aged adults are overweight despite the millions spent on the government's anti-foety strategy and it has called for a radical review of healthy eating policies. The report identified a number of occasions when public funds were given to companies that produce millions marketing junk food for projects that undermine public health. £86,472 from public funds to help businesses make confectionery cakes. £31,000 in state grants to help a farmer rebuild a barn into an ice cream shop. £637,812 alms to help a company improve its chocolate mixing equipment. £24,750 to develop 3D chocolate printing for personal gifts. 0 % VAT on unhealthy cake mix, chocolate and salt – compared to 20 % on mineral water and healthy snacks such as toasted almonds and dried fruit. The government’s Technology Strategy Board gave £637,812 to a joint project with Mondelez – the parent company of Cadbury – for ‘confectionery production’. A further grant of £487,268 was granted to Nestec, part of Nestlé, for research into ‘chocolate cooling technology’. The board also put £356,076 into a joint project with PepsiCo to research dehydrated snacks. At the same time, the rural development programme in England made two contributions in 2010 – £12,500 to biscuit production and £11,400 to convert a barn into a chocolate-made unit. The year before, Quangon handed over £143,000 to convert a farm building for ice cream production. The Research Council for Biotechnology and Biology spent £100,173 on a project aimed at improving the ‘sensory properties’ of confectionery plates. About £180,000 went to two other projects involving plates. The UK Anti-Corruption Group says that the government has 'failed' with obesity and 'made too little' to deal with dietary habits. The UK Coronary Prevention Group said seven out of ten middle-aged adults are overweight despite the millions spent on the government's anti-foety strategy and it has required a radical review of healthy eating policies. Professor Philip James, president of the trustees of charitable organisations, said: “Some of these contributions are greater than the amounts used by local health services dealing with overweight in adults and children.” The group has now identified 200 measures, including a ban on fast food stores near schools and business cuts for options offering healthy dishes. The supermarkets would also have to offer price promotion measures for healthy food, while there would be strict controls on all food sold in schools and hospitals. The report comes after last month it emerged that the government's anti-fetique drive was supervised by a company that also helps promote fast food. The Freud Communications PR industry earns £3 million a year to run important public health campaigns—including Change4Life—while working with companies such as Mars, KFC, PepsiCo and Walker's chips. Experts claim that thousands by putting a health tax of 12p a can on sweet drinks. Scientists have argued that instead of giving taxpayers funds to fast food companies, the government should set up the price of full sugar drinks such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Experts at the University of Liverpool and Children’s Food Campaign argue that thousands of cases of diabetes and cancer could be avoided, saving the £300 million in NHS by introducing a health tax of 12p a can of sweet drinks. The work of academic researchers will fuel the growing campaign to extend the principle of a customs duty on unhealthy products from cigarettes and alcohol to certain types of beverages and foodstuffs. Health campaigners and doctors have controversially resembled sugar and its contribution to obesity and ill health as the ‘new tobacco’. Liverpool's team estimates that a tax of 20p per litre – 12p per can – would reduce the number of cases of diabetes by just under 50,000 over 20 years. They estimate that there would be a 33,000 reduction in strokes and heart disease and about 9,000 fewer victims of intestinal cancer. These figures apply only to England and scientists estimate that it would lead to savings of £300 million in the cost of treating these people over the 20 years, releasing money for other patients.
En undersökning som visade att tusentals pund gavs till skräpmatsföretag. Nestlé fick nästan 500 000 pund för att hjälpa till att förbättra sin chokladtillverkning. PepsiCo fick ytterligare 350 000 pund för på forskning uttorkade snacks. Uppenbarelsen kommer när NHS kämpar med den årliga kostnaden på 47 miljarder pund för fetma. Det har gett upphov till nya påståenden om att regeringen står för nära livsmedelsföretagen.
A survey that showed that thousands of pounds were given to junk food companies. Nestlé received nearly £500,000 to help improve its chocolate production. PepsiCo received another £350,000 for on research dehydrated snacks. The revelation comes as NHS struggles with the annual cost of £47 billion for obesity. It has given rise to new claims that the government stands too close to food businesses.