The Government’s much hyped announcement on food strategy has been criticised that it fails to include a series of key recommendations, including a sugar and salt tax, made by the food tsar Henry Dimbleby.
The white paper covers food security and sustainable production, healthier eating and the role of the UK in a global food system and has been billed as the first such blueprint since rationing 75 years ago.
Farmers have been told to produce more home-grown food to help guard against future economic shocks.
Unveiling the plans at a farm in Cornwall, Boris Johnson promised that by “harnessing new technologies and innovation, we will grow and eat more of our own food – unlocking jobs across the country and growing the economy, which in turn will ultimately help to reduce pressure on prices”.
The strategy also includes plans to consult on an ambition for 50% of public sector food spend to go on food produced locally or certified to higher standards, and to publish a framework for land use in England next year.
John Maingay, on behalf of the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA), said: “Today’s Food White Paper does not go anywhere near far enough to begin to address the complex links between food and health. In doing so, it largely ignores the recommendations made by the Government’s own lead advisor. We need concrete action now if we are to have any hope of closing the gap in healthy life expectancy between the poorest and the richest.”
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said: “Today’s White Paper is a missed opportunity to help address our unhealthy food environment.
“The Government must urgently explore ways to build on the success of the mandatory soft drinks industry levy and compel manufacturers to make our everyday foods healthier and easier to access for all families, particularly after the unacceptable delay to restrictions on junk food advertising and promotions.
“The Prime Minister will now need to put his foot to the floor in order to drive progress towards his Government’s own goal of halving child obesity and improving everyone’s healthy life expectancy over the next decade and beyond.”
Responding to some of the criticism Johnson told reporters that:
“What we don’t want to do right now is start whacking new taxes on them that will just push up the cost of food,” adding
“The best way to lose weight, believe me, is to eat less.”
Dimbleby, the co-founder of the Leon restaurant chain, said that the Government’s response was not “the big, bold, unified strategy I think we need”, although he conceded that it was moving in the right direction.
Katie White, Executive Director of Advocacy and Campaigns at WWF, said:
“Making UK farming good for climate and nature is the only way to fix a broken food system to ensure healthy, affordable, sustainable food is available for everyone, now and for generations to come.
“This is not the first time the Government has watered down its climate and nature ambitions. Putting nature and climate at the heart of our food system was a clear promise of this government at COP26 – now it must raise its game and prove it’s got the backbone to deliver for people and planet.
“We not only need cross-government action but leadership from the top to drive a shift towards more sustainable diets, support UK farmers as they adopt nature friendly approaches, and set core environmental standards for all food sold in the UK, so that we can be confident the food on our plates doesn’t cost the earth.”
