(Note that yesterday’s news featured recent findings that Britain is now the fattest country in Europe.)

King accepted some responsibility on behalf of supermarkets for helping us all eat well (which shows the UK socialist perspective that says that the government — and big companies — should be looking out for the common good. I’m sure Sainsbury’s is looking to earn some “good guy points” by trying to help out with the public health issue of obesity). But when asked if Sainsbury should be steering people away from bad food, he replied, “There is no such thing as bad food, only bad diets.”

This statement caught my attention. Does it hold water? Does it work here because the UK doesn’t have Twinkies or Cool-Whip? While the US may boast (to my view) a larger market for food that is pretty devoid of nutritional value, what about UK favourites like Jaffa cakes or pork scratchings that seem to offer little to a functioning human body? (Not to mention are disgusting)

Putting aside the fact that I’m sure Sainsbury’s make significant profits from their junk food and probably wouldn’t want to jeopardise that by steering away the munchie-prone, I’m not sure the recommendation actually has the public’s best interest at heart.
Mr King has implied that we can enjoy our mayonnaise with chips, our pasties and our clotted cream. As long as they’re diluted by enough fruits and veggies, Sainsbury’s will rest secure in the knowledge that they’ve done their bit to look out for our wastelines. It’s nice to know that they’re looking after us, but somehow I don’t feel great at the prospect of a full diet of fat and junk, plus then the good stuff. Funny equation he’s recommending.

It’s probably the American capitalist in me speaking, but maybe we should leave nutritional recommendations to the Food Standards Agency and let the grocery companies get on with their own agendas: generating profits. Just a thought.