Promotions are one of the main strategies used by supermarket chains to stand out and attract customers: discounts – most often featured in catalogs as “50% off,” “buy two get one free,” or special bundle deals – are all ways for hypermarkets and supermarkets to appeal to shoppers and their wallets. But for a group of organizations advocating for public health, the environment and consumer rights, these tactics are misleading and harmful to health.
According to an analysis of promotional brochures conducted in February and March by seven organizations (France Assos Santé, Réseau Action Climat – the RAC [Climate Action Network], the French Federation of Diabetes, Foodwatch, National Collective of Obesity Advocacy Groups), whose findings were published on Wednesday, May 21, two-thirds of all promotions involved foods that are too fatty, too sweet or too salty. These are precisely the kinds of products that should be consumed less, while only 12% of promotions featured foods that should be encouraged.
Overall, these advocacy groups found there were six times more promotions for unhealthy foods than for healthy options. “These results are quite revealing for brands that claim to be allies of healthy eating,” said Benoit Granier, head of food policy at the RAC.
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