Food promotions: seven associations accuse supermarkets of "selling off" consumers' health

By The New Obs with AFP

Published on May 21, 2025 at 8:01 a.m.

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Food promotions offered by major supermarket chains "encourage people to buy unhealthy foods," seven associations denounce in a survey published on Wednesday, May 21, accusing large retailers of "selling off" consumers' health.

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To draw these conclusions, Foodwatch France, the Climate Action Network, France Assos Santé, the French Federation of Diabetics, the Confédération Syndicale des Familles, the National Union of Family Associations and the National Collective of Obese Associations scrutinized "nearly 5,000 food promotions" implemented by the five largest retailers between February and March 2025.

"There is no longer any doubt: in supermarkets, promotions that are supposed to allow you to save money mainly encourage you to buy foods that are unhealthy," warn the associations, according to which "two thirds of promotions (66%) concern products that are too fatty, too sweet, too salty."

“Only 12% of promotions are for healthy foods”

Carrefour, Coopérative U, E. Leclerc, Intermarché and Lidl "claim to be allies of 'good eating' all year round, but in practice, they go against their commitments," Audrey Morice, spokesperson for the NGO Foodwatch, complained to AFP.

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According to the survey, "only 12% of promotions concern healthy foods (...) such as fruits, vegetables or legumes, and which the French do not consume enough of," indicates the survey, which is based on the recommendations of the National Nutrition and Health Program (PNNS).

The associations also deplore the fact that "too many promotions encourage overconsumption by buying in large quantities" because according to them, "40% of promotions suggest buying products (which are) to be strongly limited according to health recommendations" , such as cold cuts, prepared meals based on red meat, or even sugary drinks.

This imbalance in the quality of products on promotion leads Audrey Morice to say that there is a form of "two-speed market" , with on one side "the least healthy products at knockdown prices" , and on the other "healthy products at a high price" . In their press release, the associations call on major retailers to guarantee "at least 50% of promotions on quality products at affordable prices" .