Over the last 18 months, we have been asking people across they UK what they really want from food. They overwhelmingly tell us they want a system that is fair, healthy, sustainable, balanced. They see the current dominance of unhealthy, heavily processed food as a relic of the past. They paint a picture of a future where nourishing, filling food is the affordable and attainable reality for all.

Heartwarming? Undoubtedly. Achievable? Actually, yes.

Far from being blue sky thinking, their version of the future is possible with decisive intervention from the Government. But that does present a challenge. For decades, successive governments have shied away from meaningful action for fear of being perceived as ‘nanny state’. This inaction has led us to a crisis point and a food system that isn’t working for most people.

'I think where we had the most agreement was around needing the government to almost stop hiding behind the term nanny state. And actually, they should take on more of a responsibility. ' The Food Conversation participant, Berkshire

Between 1992 and 2020, 14 strategies containing almost 700 policies to address obesity – just one of many consequences of the current food system - were published. Many of those policies focused on the responsibility of individuals to make healthier decisions. The majority didn’t make it to implementation. This inaction is front and centre of a new report from the House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee Recipe for health: a plan to fix our broken food system. Recipe for Health underlines the systemic challenge in the food system and the urgent need for a systemic response, laying out a bold action plan to improve governance and leadership, tackle the concentrated power of food corporations, and introduce vital regulations.

FFCC’s written evidence fed into Recipe for Health, reflecting some initial findings from The Food Conversation and how citizens involved see a way to a healthier food system. Indeed, it is striking to see alignment throughout so much of the report and the calls to action from citizens. A key recommendation is a shake-up in how the food system is governed, with a proposal for a comprehensive food strategy, a legislative framework, and oversight from the Food Standards Agency. Citizens in The Food Conversation also want strengthened governance and accountability, proposing cross-government and even cross-nation strategies, with a non-political government body to oversee and co-ordinate food policy.

“The problem is, when governments lose office, things change and it takes a while to bring that back again” The Food Conversation participant, Cornwall 

Of course, the food system operates far beyond England’s borders and although food policy is devolved to the four nations, fixing the system goes beyond Westminster. Given that the FSA operates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, in collaboration with Food Standards Scotland, this could be a golden opportunity for the first step towards the necessary joined up, collaborative working envisioned by citizens.

Another area that crosses over with the views of citizens is the framing of the power of global food corporations, and the impact this disproportionate power has in the food system. Those few corporations ultimately control the market and the food choice available. Driven by profit and growth, there are too many incentives to sell unhealthy, energy dense foods that cannot meet dietary guidelines and nourish the population.

“I think the whole food industry is very monopolised by a few companies and some dreadful practices from a monetary perspective, let alone anything else” The Food Conversation participant, North Wales

Voluntary action cannot compete with this juggernaut, and Recipe for Health urges Government to commit to a framework of regulation to set out the standards expected. Policies proposed have surfaced in all locations we’ve taken The Food Conversation, including restricting all unhealthy food advertising, and mandating front of pack nutrition labels on food.

A key concern from citizens is ultra-processed food (UPF); it was reassuring to read that the mounting evidence on UPF made it through to the Recipe for Health report. Citizens describe a dominance and normalisation of UPF, which crowd out healthier options. The normalisation of UPFs causes some citizens to worry about their children and the food they will have access to.

“I was just really scared because I am vaguely aware of ultra-processed food and I like to keep healthy and my family healthy, but I find it absolutely impossible to keep my teenager and young teens healthy and away from ultra-processed foods.” The Food Conversation participant, Cornwall 

While Recipe for Health has thrown down the gauntlet to the Government, what matters now is how the Government chooses to respond. That response is due by Christmas. In the meantime, we will be digesting what citizens have told us in The Food Conversation and launching headline findings at our Citizens Food Summit on 19th November. Will this be the moment when the Government will stop shying away, step up to the plate, and act decisively?

“Government is ultimately responsible. It's just whether they have the will to take the challenge on.” The Food Conversation participant, East Kent  

Image credit: © 2023. Provided by Impact on Urban Health licensed via a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license