Sue Pritchard’s Post

Just in case.... you needed convincing Important new work from Tim Jackson and from Food, Farming and Countryside Commission highlighting the epic market failures of our industrial food systems. Part of me is saddened by the seeming need to have to put a financial number on everything. Sometimes we should do things differently because it feels right, because it feels like the right thing to do and because it will benefit us all, rather than accept that we're stuck in a world where "money talks". However, with a pragmatic realist hat on, I realise the power of this analysis, which helps strengthen an already strong 'business case' for action - AWAY from a consumerist, profit-driven, unhealthy food environment and TOWARDS a fairer, new food economy. There was already a strong moral case, but there is also now an even more powerful case for national government and others to invest in bold action. The case for action is now strong 💪 : ⚖️ Moral case ✅ 🌎 Planetary case (there is only one planet Earth) ✅ 👩⚕️ Health case (prevention is better than cure) ✅ 💷 Economic case (real cost of industrial food systems + cost of inaction) ✅ 🫂 The public calling for change (see FFCC's Food Conversation) ✅ Let's get on the case...

Here’s another piece of research laying out what needs to be done to avoid £268billion of costs associated with our UK food system. Dysfunctional food choices are bankrupting the country and causing misery to millions. 2021’s national food strategy was never applied by the previous government - one of the most rigorous analyses and recommendations ever assembled anywhere in the world on food and farming. Why are governments not implementing these strategies? How can we prevent governments from repeatedly ignoring the evidence?

Just how many more times does this issue have to be proven before ANY government takes it seriously? The right food = improved health. The right food = improved planetary health. Heavens, dare I say it but the right food and farming would RESTORE human and planetary health. It’s devastating that there’s so much money involved in feeding people rubbish and selling systems with such horribly high inputs that the cost of change is seen as “too high” by those with the power to really implement change at a high level. Well done Food, Farming and Countryside Commission for putting together yet another BRILLIANT report and getting the info out there to the wider world. I can’t get to the march in London, but we’re having a meeting/farm walk here in Norfolk to show our support of: Fair Prices for Farmers Fairness in the supply chain Access to nutrient dense food, grown as locally as possible High farming standards (arguably the best in the world) Environmentally Friendly Farming Protecting farmland from unsuitable “renewable” energy Clear Labelling of food showing methods of production Family Farms not Mega Farms It’s not too late to join us at Old Hall Farm if you wish! Definitely #wearyourwellies and a jolly good coat and scarf too! #EatToSaveThePlanet #FamilyFarmsMatter #AgroecologicalFarming #CowWithCalfDairy #KinderFarming #DitchTheUltraProcessedFoods

🌍 A Call for Stronger Regulation in the UK Food Industry 🚨 2.8 million people in the UK are economically inactive due to long-term diet-related illnesses. This is not just a health crisis, it's a productivity crisis - and the food industry has a massive role to play in solving it. Top players like Tesco, Iceland, and institutional investors are done with waiting. They’re calling on the government to introduce tougher regulations and mandatory reporting on sales of high-fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) products to level the playing field and drive real change across the sector. This was a recommendation from Henry Dimbleby's National Food Strategy. Here's what’s at stake: 🚨 Childhood obesity is skyrocketing - and it’s time for action. 🚨 Investors are sounding the alarm: businesses that don’t prioritise health are at risk of falling behind. 🚨 Voluntary measures aren’t enough. It’s time for legally required data transparency to push the industry to reformulate products and get serious about nutrition. We believe this is more than a moral issue - it’s an economic imperative. A healthier country is a more productive country, and businesses, investors, and policymakers must unite to create a sustainable future for food. 💪 Full article from the Financial Times below.

Following USDA’s dietary guidelines would cost a household of four between $12,000 and $14,000 annually. Meanwhile, a household with two adults working full-time, minimum wage jobs earns $30,000 per year. Eating healthy would require nearly half of their income. Our food system is broken – it's not working for you, it's not working for me, and it's not working for our community. Came across this article making an interesting case for universal basic food, which might sound far-fetched at first, but is arguably a future iteration of our food pantry system... What do you think? https://lnkd.in/eZJKdrJB

🚨 Out today: New poll shows healthy food is now seen as out of reach for the majority of people – and unearths real and growing food crisis in the UK.    🔸 4/5 people think healthy food is something everyone should have. Yet, less than 1 in 10 think healthy food is affordable to most people. 🔸 Nearly 1/2 say they’ve cut back on the quality of food they eat due to financial pressures 🔸 2/3 say it's government's job to make sure healthy food is affordable Today we launch the next stage of #TheFoodConversation, setting off across the UK to hear from citizens about what some of the solutions might be.   Find out more: https://lnkd.in/dV3vK3dx 

🍟 New research on the ‘false economy’ of #BigFood: The UK’s growing addiction to unhealthy #food costs £268bn a year, more than the entire #NHS budget. “devastating” impact on human health and Britain’s finances. “Far from keeping us well, our current food system, with its undue deference to what is known colloquially as ‘Big Food’, is making us sick. The costs of trying to manage that sickness are rapidly becoming unpayable,” the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC) report says. Sue Pritchard, the FFCC’s chief executive, urged ministers to bring in robust regulation of the food industry. Food firms have sacrificed the health of consumers as they have taken “the fast track to big profits” by using flavours, packaging and clever #marketing ploys to encourage people to buy food that harms their health, she said. Ministers should consider giving vouchers to #LowIncome households to buy UK-grown fruit and vegetables, and more support to farmers to produce food, she added. #Fat #Sugar #Salt #ProcessedFood

So there we have it... “big food is making us sick” And the cost to society is spiralling – hundreds of billions. Oooof. We all knew it was bad. But not that bad. “… a food system that privatises the profits and socialises the harms from bad food. It puts a price on the failure of the government stretching back over 30 years to regulate big food.” The link between healthy land, healthy food and a healthy population seems pretty clear to most of us. Right now that chain is broken, and it’ll take some bold leadership and proper joined-up thinking to fix it. The big players need to stop abdicating their responsibilities and admit they’re the problem. Us underdogs need to keep snapping at their heels and helping to drive change. Full article here... https://lnkd.in/eTmagPd4

Taxing Our Way to Health: Will a UPF Levy Really Fix Our Food System? 🤔 Forget sin taxes on cigarettes and sugary drinks 🚬 – the latest target for public health crusaders is ultra-processed foods (UPFs) 🍟. Professor Carlos Monteiro, the doctor who put UPFs on the map, is calling for a global tax on these culinary villains, arguing it's the only way to curb the tidal wave of diet-related diseases. Monteiro's argument is simple: UPFs are engineered to be irresistible, packed with cheap ingredients, and aggressively marketed, particularly to low-income communities. The result? A global health crisis fueled by obesity, diabetes, and a host of chronic illnesses. Proponents of a UPF tax point to the success of similar taxes on tobacco and sugary drinks, arguing that higher prices can nudge consumers towards healthier choices. They envision a world where grocery stores are no longer dominated by brightly-colored, hyper-palatable snacks, and where fresh, whole foods are the more affordable option. Think of it - a utopia of kale chips and quinoa salads! 🥗 But critics argue that a UPF tax is a blunt instrument that risks widening existing inequalities. They point out that healthy food is already a luxury for many, and that simply slapping a tax on processed foods does nothing to address the systemic issues – poverty, food deserts, lack of access to education – that drive poor dietary choices.  Furthermore, they argue that focusing solely on individual foods ignores the complexities of nutrition. A tax on instant noodles, for example, might seem like a good idea, but what about the families who rely on them as an affordable and convenient meal option? Are we about to spark a global ramen riot? 🍜 The debate over a UPF tax raises fundamental questions about the role of government in shaping our food choices. Is it the responsibility of policymakers to engineer our diets through taxation? Or should the focus be on empowering individuals to make informed choices through education, clear labeling, and greater access to affordable, healthy foods? Ultimately, creating a healthier and more equitable food system demands a nuanced approach. One that acknowledges the complexities of individual choice, systemic inequalities, and the powerful influence of the global food industry. The path to a healthier future may require more than just a tax – it requires a deeper conversation about the true cost of what we eat. #ultraprocessedfoods #foodpolicy #publichealth #nutrition #foodjustice #foodequality Read more: https://lnkd.in/gCENhnbS

Fixing Our Food Systems: Healthy Food Shouldn’t Be a Luxury The UK’s $268bn annual diet-related disease cost is a stark warning: failing food systems and unhealthy diets are not just public health issues—they’re global economic threats. This crisis isn’t confined to the UK. In the Philippines, 1 in 4 children under five suffer from stunted growth due to cheap, unhealthy junk food. Globally, food security is further undermined by the fact that 4–5 companies control nearly 90% of the world’s grain trade. This extreme concentration limits market competition, inflates prices, and pushes nutritious food further out of reach for millions. The result? Multinational food companies and pharmaceutical giants profit while consumers are left with rising malnutrition, preventable health crises, and escalating costs that strain healthcare systems and economies worldwide. At Smoove Exchange, we’re committed to changing this narrative. By leveraging technology and transparency, we’re breaking monopolistic barriers and fostering competitive, fair markets where producers are empowered, and consumers can access healthy food at reasonable prices. This isn’t just about reform; it’s about survival. From the UK to the Philippines and beyond, the solution is clear: implement robust regulation, rebuild supply chains to prioritize accessibility and fairness, and ensure that healthy food is no longer a luxury but a fundamental right. https://lnkd.in/ewbaAN54 https://lnkd.in/eZM7EFYy https://lnkd.in/eFRCwdHT