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Action on Sugar

National Food Strategy Launched

Published:

Historic reform to food system needed to protect the NHS, improve the health of the nation and save our environment. 

Read the full report 

“If we seize this opportunity, we can improve our health, protect our environment and build a better, more sustainable food system and a healthier future for our children and grandchildren” 

  • Poor diet currently contributes to an estimated 64,000 deaths every year in England 
  • National Food Strategy calls Covid 19 a “painful reality check” that is an opportunity to transform our food system to save lives  
  • Calls for landmark Sugar and Salt Reformulation Tax, expansion of Free School Meals and major overhaul of food education as part of once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink our diets and food production  

Recommendations are intended to meet four key objectives:  

  • Escape the Junk Food Cycle and protect the NHS 
  • Reduce diet-related inequality  
  • Make the best use of our land 
  • Create a long-term shift in our food culture 

The food system of the future must meet these goals: 

  • make us well instead of sick 
  • be resilient enough to withstand global shocks 
  • help to restore nature and halt climate change so that we hand on a healthier planet to our children  
  • nourish our souls as well as our bodies  
  • meet the standards the public expect, particularly on animal welfare 

Graham MacGregor, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Queen Mary University of London and Chairman of Action on Salt says: 

"If ever there was an opportunity to finally transform our food system to save lives – this is it – especially the call for a landmark Salt Reformulation Tax which will make the UK the first country in the world to have a mandatory salt levy.  

Not only will the tax incentivise further innovation and reformulation, such as the use of potassium chloride – which is less harmful to health than conventional salt, it will build a better food system for a healthier nation. Previous attempts by the government to encourage voluntary reformulation have failed which is why more fiscal measures are urgently needed to address the country’s shocking health inequalities. The question is, are food manufacturers willing to make their food healthier by reformulating?" 

View the media coverage here

Dr Kawther Hashem, Campaign Lead at Action on Sugar says 

“Without doubt, a landmark Sugar Reformulation Tax would fix the current issues seen with the voluntary sugar reduction programme. The last progress report showed how far we are from meeting the 20% reduction with only a minuscule 3% reduction.   

This can be compared with the Soft Drinks Industry Levy which has seen a whopping 35% reduction in sugar within just four years. This demonstrates the power of government to help save the NHS by reducing the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Never has this sugar tax been so vital." 

Sir Partha Dasgupta, Frank Ramsey Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Cambridge and author of The Economics of Biodiversity, said:

“Analytically tight, empirically thorough, the Dimbleby Report is not only a masterly study of UK’s food problem, but it also constructs a framework wide enough to be deployed for studying the food problems societies face everywhere. The Report’s recommendations are detailed, convincing, and would be entirely implementable if we cared about ourselves and the world around us.”

Helen Browning, Chief Executive of the Soil Association, said:

"Everyone knows farming has to change if we are going to meet our climate and biodiversity goals and improve the health of the nation. But it is far, far easier said than done. Dimbleby offers a nuanced and imaginative way forward, one which harnesses the capacity of farmers and land managers to be a major part of the solution in tackling these challenges, while being fairly rewarded for their hard work and ingenuity. Many farmers are up for the challenge, but will need these recommendations to be implemented to make this possible."

Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation, said:

“This significant report makes strong recommendations to make everyday foods healthier for all, and which must be considered as part of the comprehensive action needed to tackle obesity.”

Jamie Oliver, chef and campaigner, said:

“This is no time for half-hearted measures. If both government and businesses are willing to take bold action and prioritise the public’s health, then we have an incredible opportunity to create a much fairer and more sustainable food system for all families. Of course it’s right every child should have access to healthy and affordable food, no matter where they live – and last year has been a stark reminder that nutritious meals are vital in keeping us all healthy and resilient.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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