Action on Salt and Sugar welcome announcement of 2024 National Food Strategy
With the recent launch of the National Food Strategy led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Action on Salt and Sugar is pleased to welcome the new plan and is hopeful for decisive government action.
The National Food Strategy will see a close collaboration with multiple departments across the government, including the Department for Health and Social Care and Department for Education, and will be led by DEFRA. It aims to build on the government’s previous work and utilise the preexisting National Food Strategy outlined by Henry Dimbleby in 2021. This previous NFS highlighted the demonstrative impact processes such as mandatory reformulation targets could have on health and called for more regulated action across all food categories, such as stricter nutrition guidelines.
When describing the new plan, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed told industry leaders that the coalition between government, academics, charities, and industry leads would help “tackle obesity and improve health”. It is hoped that in doing so, it will provide healthier and accessible food choices that enable children and adults access to more nutritionally healthy diets.
Sonia Pombo, Head of Impact and Research at Action on Salt, said: “A new Food Strategy, if implemented, has the potential to benefit not only public health, but the environment and economy too. We are excited to contribute to its development and hope the government can build from past recommendations and create meaningful change.”
