Fears Food Strategy Will Fall Short Of Tackling Key Issues

The government is expected to water down its upcoming food strategy for England, ignoring the ambitious recommendations proposed in two government-commissioned reports, campaigners say.

- Helena Horton

The white paper, due this month, was supposed to be a groundbreaking plan to tackle the nature and climate emergencies in response to recommendations urged by the restaurateur Henry Dimbleby in his reports.

Campaigners also expected it to tackle the obesity crisis, by making healthy food more accessible, including expanding free school meals. There were hopes that there would be a food bill introduced, bringing measures such as the reporting of nutritional content in food served in schools and hospitals into law.

Experts consulted on the strategy pushed for a reduction in intensive animal agriculture and mandatory reporting for retailers on how much animal protein, compared with plant protein, they sell.

This, they said, has become even more crucial in the light of the cost of living crisis, and the war in Ukraine putting pressure on international food supply chains.