Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) welcomes the publication today, Thursday 15th July 2021, of the second part of Henry Dimbleby’s National Food Strategy.
Christina Marriott, Chief Executive of RSPH said: “Food is an integral part of all our lives, yet the present system does not serve the health of the population nor the planet. It is hugely concerning that obesity often co-exists with hunger. The current food systems reduce access in most deprived communities for nutritious, reasonably priced food, and in return widens the gap between rich and poor.
“We welcome the National Food Strategy plan calling for an overhaul of our food systems. Bolstering Free School Meals, the Healthy Start scheme, and Holiday Activities and Food programmes will help to set many more children on a healthier path to adulthood. The government must also commit to long-term investment and binding targets to re-engineer the food system to keep us healthy.
“The pandemic exposed the successes and failures of our food system – as we emerge we must learn and implement sustainable policies to create a fair society where food nourishes humans and the environment. We urge the Government to act on the recommendations the National Food Strategy makes if they wish to ‘level-up’ and ‘build back better’.”