Investors are trying to pressure Tesco into boosting its sales of healthy food and drink amid growing evidence that the UK’s obesity problem has worsened during the Covid-19 crisis.

A consortium of investors, led by responsible investment NGO ShareAction, has filed what is thought to be the first nutrition-based shareholder resolution at a FTSE 100 company.

There is growing concern among some investors about the long-term impact actions big retailers are having on public health, ShareAction said.

Tesco is the UK’s biggest grocery retailer, with market share of just under 27%.

The shareholders are calling on the retailer to cut its reliance on junk food for sales growth, emphasising that new health regulations likely to be imposed following the pandemic pose a risk to profits.

If passed at its AGM this summer, it would force Tesco to disclose what proportion of its overall food and soft drink sales are made up of healthy products.

It would also require the chain to develop a strategy to significantly increase the ratio of healthy to junk food sales by 2030, and publish a review of its progress each year from 2022.

The issue of setting out a healthy food strategy was raised at Tesco’s 2020 AGM, ShareAction said, but the retailer refused to commit to making changes.

It said the resolution was a “marked escalation” in pressure from shareholders.

Before the pandemic, around 90,000 people died from diet-related diseases in the UK every year, according to a 2019 study.

An estimated 4.7 million people have diabetes – 90% of which is type 2.

Obesity has now emerged as one of the biggest risk factors for acute cases of Covid-19, with severely obese people three times more likely to be admitted to intensive care with the virus.

The first phase of the Government-commissioned National Food Strategy, published last summer, noted: “The fact that we went into the Covid-19 crisis with such high rates of obesity and diet-related disease has undoubtedly contributed to the UK’s appalling death rate.”

In response, the Government is considering a series of measures to tackle the problem, including legislation to curb sales of junk food.

Among the proposals are an end to promotion of foods high in fat, salt or sugar by restrictions on offers such as buy one, get one free.

There could also be limits on placing junk food products in prominent positions, both in physical stores and online, to reduce impulse buys.

Elsewhere, other big British retailers have already established a strategy to increase sales of healthy products.

Marks & Spencer’s “Plan A” sustainability programme includes a target of 50% of sales on its own-brand items to be generated by healthier products by 2022.

Forty-three percent of Sainsbury’s food and soft drink sales came from healthier products in 2019/20, and it has committed to reporting its progress twice yearly from 2021 onwards, ShareAction said.

The resolution is being backed by seven institutional investors managing more than £140 billion in assets, along with 101 individual investors.

As the UK’s largest food retailer, Tesco’s actions are of systemic importance in tackling obesity

Ignacio Vazquez, senior manager at ShareAction, said: “As the UK’s largest food retailer, Tesco’s actions are of systemic importance in tackling obesity.

“But its prime market position has not yet translated into leadership on this critical issue.

“We hope that Tesco’s board will endorse the resolution and grasp the opportunity to help build a healthier UK post-Covid, while also improving its financial sustainability in the long term.”

Kieron Boyle, chief executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, said: ”Evidence shows that families spend most of their food budget in supermarkets.

“We know that the products sold there, how they are priced, placed and promoted have a big impact on what families buy and, as a result, on children’s diet.

“Supermarkets like Tesco have a significant opportunity to show real leadership by disclosing and, where needed, improving their efforts to help families to keep healthy.”

A Tesco spokeswoman highlighted several Tesco campaigns to encourage healthy eating, including cutting calories from its product and offering free fruit to children in-store, as well as Tesco’s plans to increase sales of plant-based meat.

“We keep our targets under review to ensure they are sufficiently stretching, reflecting feedback from a wide range of stakeholders, and will share our latest health ambitions ahead of publishing our next Little Helps Plan update,” she said.

“Looking forward, we have strong plans to make Tesco the easiest place to shop for healthy and sustainable food, to encourage increased consumption of fruit and vegetables, and to raise awareness of healthier choices.”