Three Robins’ Post

📚 New report: Unhealthy food is costing UK over £250 billion Analysis from Prof Tim Jackson for FFCC reveals the costs of Britain’s unhealthy food system amount to £268 billion every year – almost equivalent to the total annual UK healthcare spend.  It shows the current food system is costing 4 x more in health-related costs than it would cost to fix it – and that the way we eat, grow and produce food is imposing a staggering financial burden on the British economy. The report draws on, amongst other evidence, the latest findings from #TheFoodConversation, which shows the extent of the public’s appetite for government intervention on food. It comes ahead of the Citizens Food Summit, which brings together citizens with leaders in food, farming, business, health and politics to call for urgent reform to food in the UK. Read The Guardian exclusive: https://lnkd.in/ewbaAN54 Read Tim’s report: https://lnkd.in/eMTKUEqS

🚨 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 

More evidence that healthy food is unaffordable for most people; typically 2-3 x the cost of less healthy food. Access to nutritious food is a right not a luxury. Those experiencing #foodinsecurity have poorer diet related health outcomes, but this doesn't have to be the case, although precisely why FEAST With Us exists. Keen to hear from all political parties on the changes they would make in the next government to help create a fairer and healthier food system. #theFoodConversation #nutrition #feedingandempowering

80% of our food supply based on our current convenience and entertainment model are Ultra Processed Foods #UPF This report from the @ffcc shows we, citizens, want healthier and more nutritious options. We want to support farming and farmers to make our food supply secure, fair, and cooler (C02) again and bring respect back to how we grow, communicate and consume our food. This report outlines what leadership citizens are looking for: Healthier and greener food environment Support for farmer to farm more sustainably Fairer taxes and regulations Practice help citizens to eat more healthy and sustainably If we achieved the rebalance our food supply requires, we educate and increase availability of healthy and nutritious food and a real fundamental, potion control, we could eat better and waste less. A great report. #ocfug #food #greengrocery

Healthy + sustainable food needs to be the norm!

🍟 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

NEW Polling from Recipe for Change! ➡️ 35 leading food, health, and children's advocacy groups, as well as experts and royal medical colleges have called on the government to go ‘further & faster’ to create a healthier food industry, as new polling reveals low public trust in companies. ➡️ The new polling shows 74% of British adults believe that companies are NOT HONEST about the health impacts of their food. ➡️ With products overloaded in sugar & salt, only 13% of the public believe food companies will reduce unhealthy ingredients in their food without government stepping in. ➡️ Voluntarily initiatives for food companies to change their recipes haven’t been effective enough - they’ve reduced sugar by 3.5%, compared to 34% for the mandatory sugary drinks levy. ➡️ 68% of people polled support extending this to other food and drinks products beyond soft drinks, if any money raised supported children’s food and health initiatives. ➡️ Our joint letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves & Health Secretary Wes Streeting, calls on Government to be much more ambitious in building a healthier food industry. ➡️ Industry regulation to make our food healthier, including an expanded sugar & salt tax on companies, is recommended by the recent Lords Committee report on Food, Diet and Obesity, the National Food Strategy, supported by the public & many companies. It’s time for Government to act now! #RecipeForChange #publichealth #childhealth #healthyfood #foodindustry #reformulation #foodpolicy #obesity #healthmission #salt #sugar #reformulation #foodindustry Read the full story and the letter here or join the campaign by visiting https://buff.ly/49uRxM5 The Food Foundation , Obesity Health Alliance Impact on Urban Health , British Heart Foundation , Action on Salt | Action on Sugar | World Action on Salt, Sugar and Health ,

This is a pretty bleak stat but important, as with all wicked/complex challenges to lean into, acknowledge and make transparent. We can then move onto solutions led in partnership by governments and businesses across the UK. 'The False Economy of Big Food and the case for a new food economy' researched and written by Prof Tim Jackson is a huge milestone for the team at Food, Farming and Countryside Commission and the result of a laser focus on #foodsystems and working in partnership and listening to people and ideas from different perspectives to find practical and radical solutions. It proposes three principles to change the direction of travel for our food economy: ➡️ Root the right to good food in law and provide serious leadership across governments ➡️ Regulate Big Food effectively, to halt the rise of chronic illnesses ➡️ Redirect resources to a new food economy, based on good healthy food, sustainably produced, easily available for everyone everywhere. https://lnkd.in/eXCtBUjf When those of us talk about the implementation of the ambition and legislation of the #GoodFoodNation in #Scotland - this is the scale of leadership and direction required.

🍽️ Is cutting out ultra-processed foods the answer, or just a fad? 🤔 The conversation around ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has moved beyond food manufacturers and into the mainstream. With debates in parliament and media attention growing, it’s hard to ignore the question: Could reducing or eliminating UPFs be the solution to the UK’s obesity crisis, or is this just another trend fuelled by misinformation? If you’re interested in hearing where this debate might be heading, Food Manufacture is hosting a must-watch webinar on 19th November. They’re bringing together a panel of experts to dive into the big questions: Is targeting UPFs the next logical step, or is it an unnecessary distraction? And what could this mean for the future of food and drink in the UK? 👉 Sign up to join the discussion and get the latest insights from industry leaders. https://lnkd.in/ehuSRwNm Genna Freeman - Dennis Alan Jones Kate Halliwell RNutr Matthew McAuliffe Elin Roberts Bethan Grylls #FoodAndDrinkMarketing #UPFdebate #IndustryTrends #WebinarAlert