Develop a comprehensive UK Food Strategy

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Overview

The BDA is calling on the UK Government and devolved administrations to develop a comprehensive, UK-wide food strategy that prioritises health, environmental sustainability, and accessibility. Recognising the multifaceted nature of the food systems, we call for a cross-government approach that addresses its complexities and fosters collaboration among key departments. Through positive discussions on food and environmental sustainability we can create a system that is healthier for all. 

What is the UK-Wide Food Strategy Campaign?

This campaign advocates for the development of a UK-wide food strategy that takes a comprehensive approach to food policy, considering elements from taxation and regulation, production of sustainable foods through land use and food security, to nutrition and public health. We want to ensure that everyone in the UK can access a healthy, balanced diet, regardless of their income or background. 

The BDA is engaging with both internal and external stakeholders, including policymakers across the UK, demonstrating the need for action and the benefits of a collaborative approach through evidence-led research and information. Our campaign will also promote the enshrining of a 'Right to Food' in UK law to protect the most vulnerable. Our aim is to build cross-departmental support for a comprehensive, evidence-based UK-wide food strategy and secure a commitment to its development and implementation.

Why are dietitians so valuable in this area?

The UK's post-Brexit food system is struggling to adapt, leading to rising food costs and shortages. Simultaneously, many people in the UK are unable to access a healthy, balanced diet, with lower-income groups disproportionately affected by obesity, diabetes, and malnutrition.

Dietitians are essential in developing a UK food strategy due to their expert knowledge in nutrition, public health advocacy, and ability to provide practical solutions. Through the BDA campaign dietitians can collaborate with various stakeholders, ensuring policies are comprehensive and inclusive. By focusing on prevention and effective communication, dietitians help create a healthier nation, making them indispensable in shaping a food system that promotes health for all.

Latest news and information

BDA updates
  • Late in 2024 the government Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it will develop a new, ambitious food strategy in 2025. Focussing on four key areas or pillars of food security, health, environment and the economy. 
  • The BDA UK Food Strategy working group has met three times and have had several insightful and motivating discussions around our focus, vision and next steps for this campaign. Currently, we are working on a strategy which has three ambitions at its heart. 
  1. Exposure: Increase public and professional awareness of the critical role dietitians play in shaping food policy.
  2. Voice: Ensure dietitians have a prominent voice in policy discussions and decision making processes.
  3. Participation: Facilitate active involvement of dietitians in the implementation and evaluation of food strategies and national food policy.

Until the government produces their new, updated food strategy coming this year, this campaign strategy will advance the efforts of our most recent comprehensive National Food Strategy to date, produced by Henry Dimbleby in 2021, to:   

  • Escape the junk food cycle 
  • Reduce diet-related inequality 
  • Make the best use of our land 
  • Create a long-term shift in our food culture

We will be holding events, webinars, and releasing participation resources throughout the campaign, be sure to keep updated with the latest on the campaign here. 

Director of Public Affairs, Policy and Campaigns, and Trade Union advocating for a UK Food Strategy at the TUC conference in 2024. 

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Briefs and reports

The BDA recognise that an entire food system shake up will need both cross governmental and external collaboration to be successful. We can only build a food system that is healthier for us all and the planet by listening to the evidence of those with the expert knowledge and experience, like ourselves. Here are some of the latest briefs, reports and thinking by our esteemed collaborators and food strategy champions. 

  • The Food Foundation Broken Plate Report 2025: the flagship report from The Food Foundation for 2025 is here. Highlighting the latest and key trends in the food system, and also making vital recommnedations to policymakers to ensure everyone can afford healthy food. 
  • The House of Lords recipe for health: a plan to fix our broken food system: In October 2024 as stated by the House of Lords itself: "The Government needs a plan to fix our broken food system and turn the tide on the public health emergency". We entirely agree with this statement. The government responded to this report and each recommendation, and while acknowledging the need for a cross-departmental effort to create a food strategy we wish that there was a clearer indicator of their plan and commitment to this urgently needed strategy. 
  • DEFRA Food Security report 2024: the department for environment, food and rural affairs (DEFRA) produced a full report analysing statistical data relating to food security in the UK. 
BDA consultation responses

The BDA UK Food Strategy campaign lead and working group have responded to several consultations where the development and implementation of a comprehensive food strategy would aid greatly in the health, wellbeing and economy of the UK and its population. Acting as a vessel for the voice of dietetics below are some the consultations we have recently contributed our evidence to: 

  • The National Planning Policy Framework: "How is housing relevant to dietetics?" Ensuring that infrastructures are built with the wellbeing of its residents in mind is vital to the health of our nation. While some of the more nuanced areas of this consultation where not in the expert remit of the dietetic workforce, there is an area that greatly affects our prevention agenda. Chapter 8 of the framework outlines the government guidelines on applications for hot food takeaways and fast food outlets near schools. The chapter also sets out ambitions to promote healthy, inclusive and safe communities. 
  • NHS 10-year plan: In December 2024 the BDA responded the the largest conversation about our health service in a generation. Focusing on workforce and prevention, we highlighted areas where the dietetic workforce have both qualitative and economic impact such as cost savings through community and primary care service, digital leadership, and calling for the increase of both dietitians and the support workforce- to name a fraction of our input to this consultation. There was a section towards the end that prompted any specific policy ideas, the BDA UK Food Strategy campaign shared the following: 

It is estimated that the cost of unhealthy eating habits on society is up to £286billion, far exceeding NHS budgets and spending. Far from keeping us healthy our current food system is making us sick, increased consumption of foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt are having a devastating effect on the planet, and human health.

Research shows that the NHS is spending £67.5billion on tackling diseases linked to diet and if this continues it is likely that by 2035 the cost of these treatments will be more than all cancers combined. The other £167billion is the cost in productivity of people with sickness at work (£116.4billion) and the remaining a ‘human cost’ of £60billion to tackle ailments such as chronic pain and early mortality.

While efforts already taken by the Government are promising such as, reforms in junk-food advertising and review of the sugar tax, the development of a food strategy that takes a comprehensive and holistic approach to the food system, tackling nutrition and public health, nature-positive production and equitable food access for all.

Dietitians and their professional body should be involved in these conversations by default as one of the only professions to solely work with food, nutrition and its effects.

Open and upcoming consultations

DEFRA Food Strategy: 

We have received acknowledgement from the food team at DEFRA that we are on their stakeholder list for updates, communications and more. We will therefore welcome the opportunity to engage with their draft and consultations on the anticipated government food strategy

OPEN Land Use Framework: 

The Government has launched a consultation on a new strategic approach to managing land use in England to give decision makers the data they need to protect our most productive agricultural land, boosting Britain’s food security in a time of global uncertainty and a changing climate. The BDA UK Food Strategy will be responding to this consultation, closing on 25th April 2025 you can find out more about the consultation here. If you wish to make a response or contribute to the BDA's response please do contact [email protected] 

How can you get involved?

There are several ways you can support the campaign:

  • Write to your elected representatives expressing your support for a comprehensive food strategy
  • Share information about the campaign on social media to raise awareness
  • Talk to friends, family, and colleagues about the importance of good nutrition and a joined-up approach to food policy
  • Stay social! Share your support on social media using the hashtag #UKFoodStrategy
  • We are looking for volunteers to join the UK Food Strategy working group. Lead by BDA Policy and Campaigns Officer, Lindsey Marston, you can join a safe environment to discuss the topics you are passionate about, and in turn strengthen our campaign. 
  • Contact [email protected] for more information

Creating a healthier, more sustainable food system is a goal that affects us all. By getting involved in this campaign, you can play a part in shaping the future of food in the UK. Whether you choose to write to your representatives, share information on social media, or simply start a conversation with friends and family, every action counts. Together, we can build a food system that works for everyone and our planet.

Read more on our UK Food Strategy Campaign

Read the full campaign document