Lidl Germany takes steps to deal with unhealthy diet choices

According to a joint study of the WHO and Imperial College London, published on World Obesity Day, the number of obese children has increased dramatically in the last decades. The data also shows that many German children are overweight.

Lidl Germany is aware of this negative trend and has taken several steps; they have committed themselves to customer education and healthy nutrition in line with the German health organisation's and WHO's guidelines. In addition to the nutrition education program, Lidl aims at reducing sugar in their own brand products.

The data published in the WHO research, especially about the number of obese children, show that these initiatives on nutrition programs are necessary. “Lidl is committed to taking their responsibility. The decision to support nutrition education in schools is a smart one, because dietary habits that are shaped at a young age stay with someone during their entire life,” says Prof. Dr. Thomas Haak, Head of a German diabetes centre and a member of diabetesDE, the German diabetes support.

Another key concern of Lidl is the 20% reduction of sugar and salt in Lidl's own brand products by 2025. “We will reduce sugar and sodium step by step, as a responsibility towards our customers. This is in addition to our education program and contributions in our inspirational publications where we explain the benefits of a healthy diet,” states Jan Bock, from the Management Team of Lidl Germany. He continues: “We hope that these steps in the right direction, which we have taken voluntarily, have a positive influence on others in the industry. And we are happy that our strategy gets recognition on the highest political levels.”