Supermarket spies: How the Government plans to use loyalty card data to snoop on the eating habits of 25million shoppers
www.dailymail.co.uk – June 25, 2012

“People who buy too much alcohol, fatty foods or sugary drinks would be targeted with ‘tailored’ health advice under plans being considered by the Coalition.

“With more children than ever dangerously overweight, parents could also be contacted if their bills show they are not giving their offspring a balanced diet from their weekly shop.

“Cutting obesity-related illness would help the NHS save billions.

“A Whitehall unit set up to covertly change the habits of Britons has already been in talks with the major supermarkets to gain access to their huge shopping databases.”

Chocolate again? Loyalty cards could be used to tailor health advice
www.telegraph.co.uk – June 25, 2012

‘A Whitehall unit set up to find discreet ways to change behaviour has begun talks with supermarkets over using their vast databases to help improve the nation’s heath.

‘The head of the Behavioural Insights Team said that supermarkets had more information about their customers than doctors did and that this information should be harnessed….

‘David Halpern, the head of the Cabinet Office team known as the “nudge unit”, said: “If you go and buy your stuff regularly, they [the supermarkets] know exactly what you are buying.” ‘