Major UK grocery retailers have welcomed a new government-led “healthy food standard” for supermarkets, but have been warned they could be fined for not following the scheme

The initiative, revealed by health secretary Wes Streeting on Sky News and forming part of the forthcoming 10-Year Health Plan, will see supermarkets required to report on the proportion of healthier food sales in a bid to combat rising obesity rates by improving the nutritional value of customers’ shopping baskets.

It is understood that the scheme aims to nudge consumers towards better choices without direct intervention on price or product bans.

The new standard will allow supermarkets to choose how they meet the targets, with options including recipe reformulations, store layout adjustments, price promotions on healthier products, or changes to loyalty schemes.

Officials stress the approach is designed to “nudge” consumers towards healthier choices subtly, without significantly altering their shopping experience.

However, businesses failing to meet set nutritional targets could face financial penalties, although the government also says its focus is on collaboration, not coercion.

Describing the move as a “world-first approach”, Streeting said: “Instead of traditional nanny statism, where we regulate more heavily on price or marketing on what’s sold, we’re taking a world-first approach, which is working with supermarkets using data they already collect about the nutritional value of their shopping baskets and shopping trolleys, the average shop.

“We’re going to work with them to reduce the amount of unhealthy food in trolleys and baskets by setting targets on the healthy value of your shopping trolleys and baskets.”

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The Department for Health and Social Care said the scheme reflects evidence that even modest daily reductions in calorie intake could have a significant impact.

Streeting cited that cutting just 50 calories a day would be enough to lift 340,000 children out of obesity. The health secretary’s comments follows the UK having third-highest adult obesity rate in Europe, with one in five children now leaving primary school classified as obese.

The news has seen grocery retailers have reacted positively to the plan. “All food businesses have a critical part to play in providing good quality, affordable and healthy food,” Tesco Group CEO Ken Murphy told the publication.

“At Tesco, we have measured and published our own healthier food sales for a number of years now – we believe it is key to more evidence-led policy and better-targeted health interventions.”

Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts added: “We’re passionate about making good food joyful, accessible and affordable for everyone and have been championing the need for mandatory health reporting, across the food industry for many years.

“Today’s announcement from government is an important and positive step forward in helping the nation to eat well.

“We need a level playing field across the entirety of our food sector for these actions to have a real and lasting impact.”

Aldi CEO Giles Hurley said: “At Aldi our mission has always been to make good healthy food affordable for all and we welcome today’s Government announcement.

“From our Super 6 offers on fresh fruit and vegetables, to our partnership with TeamGB and ParalymicsGB, we know how important a nutritious diet is for our customers.

“We will continue to report on our healthier food sales and look forward to working with the Government and industry to ensure customers always have access to healthy affordable food.”