The post of the debate expresses the opinions of the writer.
Orkla CEO Nils K. Selte lined up for NRK and lay down as flat as possibleafter discovering that Orkla is among many who have reduced their assets to save money.
“Shrinkflation” has become a word we have now learned, which is about exactly that.
Agree on calorie cuts
It is not at all good for people to be deceived. When eggs and other groceries are made more expensive by crafty packaging tricks, that’s no good. But the fact that bags of candy, licorice boats and teddy bears are getting smaller also has a silver lining. Smaller bags mean less sugar and this is good for our health.
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Shrinkflation is not a unique Norwegian invention. But while Orkla’s boss lies flat and apologizes, the smaller bags are something fellow Americans see as part of their social responsibility.
The Hershey’s Kisses chocolate bag now weighs a little less, as do Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Cadbury milk chocolate that can be purchased now is 10% smaller than the previous version. It is not just about reducing costs at a time of rising prices for ingredients, transport and labor.
There is also one part of a 2017 planwhere candy giants Mars Wrigley, Ferrero (which owns Nestlé in the US), Ferrara and Lindt have joined forces to reduce the amount of calories in candy, offer more size, and clearly label calories on the front of the chocolate bar or of candy bag.
Too much sugar
In Norway we have many unnecessary diseases and premature deaths, due to diseases that are influenced by lifestyle. We are also part of a global weight gain trend. As many as 70% of us are overweight or obese, which increases the risk of serious diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Among our children, the incidence reaches up to 20 percent when it comes to overweight and obesity.
We have little to deal with when our weight has reached a problematic level for our health. This is why prevention is so important.
Reducing sugar consumption is one of the most important things we can do to reduce the extent of health problems resulting from heavy weight.
If we are to succeed in this, we must take measures that really work. One of the most effective are the highest prices for unhealthy food and the lowest prices for healthy food. Small adjustments here bring big public health benefits.
In Norway, we currently have very few restrictions on advertising unhealthy food and drink. The rules for limiting such marketing to children and young people are made and managed by the industry itself and limit very little. Several other countries are looking into measures such as a ban on three-for-two offers for unhealthy food and a requirement to remove sweets from the checkout area.
Too much of the good
In Norway, we also need to start doing something to reduce the health threat posed by overweight and obesity. Although sugar intake has decreased, it is still too high. Sugar sweets and sodas are some of our most important sources of sugar. Responsible producers and other players in the business can make an important contribution to do something about it.
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A little less teddy bear in the bag means a little less sugar, and with it a somewhat reduced contribution to health risks. It is not the only bag of candy or licorice boats that tip the scales, but the sum of everything we ingest. When kiosk chains push us low priced sandwiches, where you have to be bad at math or full of willpower to just buy one, and when the shock sellers in the store offer big bags of sweet things, it becomes too much of a good thing. all together.
Poor health comes at a great cost to the affected person, but also to the community. Therefore, it is also natural that we as a community make better arrangements for good health choices, rather than pushing it all on individuals.
Rather than being embarrassed by the shrunken candy bags, the Orkla boss should invite his colleagues to just such a service for our health, with smaller size and clearer labeling.
This way they can unite and take social responsibility.
