Melanie Johnson, minister for public health, made the comments at a summit on diet and exercise yesterday, saying that she was disappointed with the progress that had been made.
At the same time, Gavin Neath, chairman elect of food giant Unilever, admitted that labelling could be improved and that levels of sugar, fat and salt could be cut without consumers being put off the food.
The news comes following a decision late last year to stop short of banning junk food advertising on television. At that time, however, government body the Food Standards Agency outlined guidelines for new labelling and vowed to name and shame companies that do not take heed of its advice.
According to reports, the Department of Health is warning that it could force products to carry a "high in salt" label. The FSA recommends that adults eat no more than six grammes of salt a day, against an average of nearly 10 at the moment.
The government has published two consultation papers about choosing a better diet and choosing a healthier lifestyle, and is looking for responses by June 30, ahead of the publication of a White Paper. The aim of the consultation is to identify action and clarify roles and responsibilities for improving diet and nutrition.
Johnson said: "This issue is not just for government. Lasting improvements are only achievable if others, including the food industry, consumer groups, health experts and the media, work together over the coming years to tackle the issues."
With the problem of obesity on the rise, fears about the impact on the health of the nation, as well as the nation's health services, have prompted the government to take action.
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