Stores' 'diabetic' junk food under fire

Leading high street retailers including Boots and Thornton's have been accused of misleading and overcharging customers with diabetes by the chairman of the Food Standards Agency.

Sir John Krebs also claimed that stores that sold sweets, cakes and chocolates labelled as "diabetic" and "suitable for diabetics" were damaging the Government's attempts to promote healthy diets. People with diabetes, he said, should be encouraged to eat normal, low-fat diets that are high in carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables, rather than "overpriced" sweets and biscuits.

In an unprecedented official criticism of stores selling "diabetic" food ranges, Sir John urged retailers to stop using such terms. The FSA also warned that the European Commission is drafting plans to control foods targeted at people with diabetes more tightly.

His warning, made in a joint statement with Diabetes UK, a charity, will increase pressure on major retailers to withdraw these branded products.

Boots, which sells a range of 20 sweets, biscuits and chocolates prominently labelled as "suitable for diabetics", revealed that it was now reviewing its entire range.

But Sir John's criticisms were rejected by Thornton's, which is expanding its range of "diabetic" sweets and will also soon launch its Christmas range of "diabetic" confectionery. "We feel that our diabetic customers prefer the reassurance of a range that has been specially formulated for them," a spokeswoman said.