Our response to the Labour’s newly announced food strategy
Yesterday’s announcement by Steve Reed OBE, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to develop a comprehensive food strategy by 2025 signals a pivotal moment of change for the UK. The strategy will aim to confront systemic challenges in the food supply chain, food security, food environment, and sustainability. As discussions from various third-sector organisations have unfolded, we want to evaluate the potential impacts of this initiative on public health, the food industry, agricultural practices, and the environment.
Contextualising the Announcement
The UK faces significant hurdles in its national food system. According to the United Kingdom Food Security Report 2024, 54% of food consumed in the UK is domestically produced, which underscores the country’s reliance on imports for almost half (approx. 40%) of its supply (Defra, 2024). Especially striking is the gradual decline of domestic vegetable production of 10% since 2003. While this interdependence fosters diversity in food availability, it also exposes the UK to risks from geopolitical instability, climate change, and global economic fluctuations.
Furthermore, food security remains a pressing issue. In 2023, an estimated 9% of UK households experienced moderate to severe food insecurity (Defra, 2024). Rising food costs, supply chain disruptions, and economic inequality exacerbate this problem, making affordable access to nutritious food a daily struggle for millions. Alarmingly, food insecurity rates are higher among households of ethnic minorities, those with disabilities, and those with children.
Likewise, the current food environment is obesogenic and driven by economic profit, rather than public health. Through its control of product formulation, advertising, and distribution, the food industry significantly influences consumer choices and consumption patterns. Despite numerous voluntary regulations and recommendations, the food industry has shown little response and maintaining the provision of ultra-processed foods high in sugar, saturated fat, and salt, ultimately contributing to adverse health outcomes.
Statistics indicate that over 26% of adults in the UK are classified as obese, while nearly 20% of children are affected by obesity by the time they leave primary school (Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, 2024a; 2024b). These rates are especially present in areas of deprivation and low-income families. Moreover, the burden of diet-related illnesses, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers, has steadily risen globally (Afshin et al., 2019) and obesity has been identified as a major moderator. Diet-attributable disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) highlight the urgent need for systemic change, with poor dietary choices contributing significantly to chronic illnesses and metabolic disorders. Moreover, the rising prevalence of childhood obesity signals a concerning trajectory for future health outcomes. Early exposure to unhealthy dietary patterns increases the risk of lifelong chronic conditions, placing additional strain on the healthcare system and reducing overall quality of life.
So, what do we know about the plans?
The Labour Party’s proposed strategy prioritises systemic reforms that address both short-term pressures and long-term sustainability. Key components include:
Strengthening Domestic Production: By enhancing support for farmers and producers, the strategy seeks to reduce reliance on imports and bolster local economies. So far, one tangible action has been the financial investment of £343m into the rural economy. Further commitments to extend budgets and schemes have been announced.
Promoting Food Equity: The strategy aims to alleviate food insecurity through measures such as subsidised healthy food options and expanded access to free school meals. The latter would build on the success of London’s free school meal initiative.
Driving Innovation: Investment in sustainable agriculture, and resilient supply chains will ensure the UK’s food system adapts to emerging challenges.
Emphasising Sustainability: Aligning agricultural policies with climate goals will emphasise the importance of reducing food waste and carbon emissions.
Opportunities and challenges: A double-edged sword
While the strategy’s ambitions are commendable, its success depends on addressing existing weaknesses in the food system and tackling the issues with a multifaceted approach.
For example, the Food Security Report highlights vulnerabilities in the supply chain, with a 15% decline in workforce availability in critical food supply sectors (e.g. agriculture and logistics). Moreover, consumer confidence in food safety, although generally high, has seen marginal dips in recent years due to high-profile recalls and regulatory shifts post-Brexit.
Furthermore, the lack of monitoring of previous strategies had arguably caused a ping pong game of responsibility and blame (Dimbelby and van Tulleken, 2024). Without clear timelines, funding commitments, or governance mechanisms, translating vision into actionable outcomes will therefore be challenging. Ultimately, a robust framework for the execution, governance, monitoring, accountability measures, and re-evaluation to avoid the strategy from becoming a collection of aspirational but unrealisable goals.
Previous governments have also raised the challenge of navigating tensions between stakeholders, including farmers, food manufacturers, environmental groups, and consumers (Dimbelby and van Tulleken, 2024). For example, ensuring sustainable practices may increase production costs, and in turn food prices for the consumer. Striking a balance that satisfies all stakeholders without compromising affordability or sustainability will therefore be a complex task. In addition, large-scale reforms, such as promoting sustainable farming practices, require significant long-term financial investments, raising the question whether this might result in imposing excessive costs on taxpayers.
Similarly, the problem of establishing a “nanny-state” has been raised as a previous barrier (Dimbelby and van Tulleken, 2024). The strategy will in turn have to navigate potential pushback from industry and the public while ensuring the industry collaborates in promoting public health and sustainability.
Lastly, while the government has acknowledged increased food insecurity among vulnerable groups, identifying the scale of systemic inequality can pose a challenge. Addressing root causes such as poverty, unemployment, and housing insecurity is beyond the scope of food policy alone, demanding a holistic approach with broader social welfare policies.
Nevertheless, the current situation also offers a clean slate for immense opportunities and the governments proposed plans go beyond addressing immediate issues. The announcement highlighted the acknowledgment of the food system’s central role in public health, economic stability, and environmental sustainability.
As the Food Foundation posits in the commentary, prioritising food policy is long overdue, and this strategy—if executed effectively—could be a model for other nations grappling with similar challenges (Food Foundation, 2024).
Conclusion
The proposed food strategy is a step in the right direction in developing a comprehensive approach to securing the UK’s food future. While challenges are inevitable on the road ahead, the potential to build a resilient, equitable, and sustainable food system is realistic. We commend the proactive initiative, the focus on prevention, and the holistic approach to the UK’s food system and are looking forward to the food strategy.
Written by
Leonie Tuxhorn
Health and Nutrition Communications Officer