A Recipe for Change: The Urgent Need to Fix Our Broken Food System #Opinion

Victoria Hayes
24th October 2024

Taste Cheshire echoes the call for a comprehensive plan to address the public health emergency of obesity and diet-related diseases. As a champion of local, independent food and drink, we believe that a healthier food system is essential for the well-being of our communities and the planet.

The House of Lords Food, Diet, and Obesity Committee’s recent report, “Recipe for health: a plan to fix our broken food system,” highlights the urgent need for government action. The report unequivocally states that obesity and diet-related diseases are a public health crisis, costing society billions in healthcare costs and lost productivity.

Key Recommendations

The report outlines several key recommendations for the government:

• Industry Accountability: Require large food businesses to report on the healthiness of their sales and exclude unhealthy businesses from policy discussions.
• Independent Oversight: Grant the Food Standards Agency (FSA) independent oversight of the food system.
• Sugar and Salt Tax: Introduce a salt and sugar reformulation tax on food manufacturers, similar to the successful Soft Drinks Industry Levy.
• Advertising Restrictions: Ban the advertising of less healthy food across all media, building on existing restrictions.
• Research and Dietary Guidelines: Invest in research on ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and update dietary guidelines accordingly.
• Maternal and Infant Nutrition: Develop a comprehensive strategy for maternal and infant nutrition and improve compliance with school food standards.
• Affordable Healthy Food: Expand access to Healthy Start and free school meals to help families living in poverty afford healthy food.

The Cost of Inaction

The report notes the alarming statistics:

• Two-thirds of adults are overweight, and one-third are living with obesity.
• Diet-related risks are the second-biggest contributor to years of life lost.
• The annual societal cost of obesity is at least 1-2% of UK GDP.
• Unhealthy diets are the primary driver of obesity, affecting people across all income groups.

A Call to Action

Baroness Walmsley, Chair of the Food, Diet, and Obesity Committee, emphasises the need for urgent action: “Food should be a pleasure and contribute to our health and wellbeing, but it is making too many people ill. Something must be going wrong if almost two in five children are leaving primary school with overweight or obesity and so many people are finding it hard to feed healthy food to their families.”

Taste Cheshire’s Commitment

As a local food and drink organisation, Taste Cheshire is committed to promoting healthier food choices and reducing food miles. We believe that by supporting local, independent producers, we can contribute to a more sustainable and resilient food system.

We urge the government to adopt a comprehensive, long-term strategy to fix our broken food system. It’s time to prioritise public health, invest in research, and support policies that make healthy food accessible and affordable for all.

Let’s work together to create a healthier future for ourselves and generations to come.