The Faculty of Public Health welcomes today’s report from the House of Lords Food Diet and Obesity Committee which offers practical, health-focussed, and evidence-based recommendations that, if fully implemented, could transform the UK's food system and support better health for populations across the UK.
Following the publication of our ‘Health of the Next Generation - Good Food for Children’ report, we are particularly pleased to see this new report make recommendations to improve access to, and the standard of, free school meals and expand the Healthy Start program.
Clear evidence shows that healthier school meals and increased access to nutritious food for the most vulnerable families are not just interventions with short-term benefits; they offer long-term improvements in children’s physical, emotional, and educational outcomes – setting them up for a productive, healthy life.
Recognising the importance of creating a healthier food environment, the report also acknowledges that a stronger regulatory framework is essential to protect public health, and recommends tightening mandatory measures for commercial actors, from reformulating products to reduce sugar, salt, and calories, to enhancing transparency in food data. The report also recommends further restrictions on junk food advertising, often targeted at children and families in disadvantaged communities where the impact of poor diet is most severe.
This Government has already signalled a commitment to reducing pressure on our NHS services and bolstering our nation’s productivity by shifting towards a ‘prevention is better than cure’ approach to health. By implementing the report’s recommendations, the Government has the opportunity to take meaningful steps towards improving public health, particularly for children and vulnerable populations.
