This week, the House of Lords released the much-anticipated “Recipe for Health” report—a comprehensive review that draws insights from over 150 experts across the food system. It opens on a striking note: “Our food system is broken.”
At our Annual Future Food Movement Members Dinner, Baroness Walmsley, who chaired the enquiry, delivered a rallying cry to our members: “Your objectives and targets need to be more closely aligned with the public health targets that we need to have in this country.”
With the Labour government expected to respond to the report before Christmas, industry-wide change might be on the horizon. But what does this mean for your business?
Here are the report’s seven key recommendations:
- Health Reporting – Large businesses must report on the healthiness of their sales, limiting policy influence for those focused on less healthy products.
- FSA Oversight – Grant the Food Standards Agency independent oversight for stronger accountability.
- Salt and Sugar Reformulation Tax – Introduce a tax to drive reformulation and make healthier foods more affordable.
- Ad Ban on Less Healthy Foods – Enforce a full ad ban on less healthy foods across all media by the end of this Parliament.
- Research on UPFs – Fund research on ultra-processed foods and their potential health impacts.
- Maternal & Child Nutrition – Develop a strategy to enhance maternal and infant nutrition and strengthen school food standards.
- Automatic Enrolment for Health Schemes – Expand Healthy Start and free school meals to reach more families.
These recommendations call for decisive action, greater accountability, and comprehensive food policy reform. Our health coach, Ali Morpeth, warns that “businesses unwilling to move” on these recommendations may face a “tougher operating environment.”
How Can You Take Action?
- Engage with Experts: Connect with our sister business, Veris Strategies, for guidance on building long-term strategies.
- Invest in Skills: Upskill your teams to confidently navigate these shifts. Our team of industry experts can brief your teams on the report and its implications. Just reply to this email to start the conversation.
- Assess Risks: Proactively consider how these recommendations might impact your portfolio and consumers.
- Build Partnerships: Collaborate with NGOs and industry groups to accelerate progress and establish a leadership position.
- Back Innovators: Support entrepreneurs and disruptors with fresh ideas—key to driving real change. Don’t miss our November expert event focused on Disruption and Innovation. Join us as a member now to secure your place.
As we navigate these pivotal changes, collaboration and networking are more important than ever. We’re here to support your business in seizing these opportunities and driving meaningful change in the food system. Here’s the report.
