Broken Plate Report 2025
The Food Foundation has published its annual Broken Plate report examining the food system's impact on citizens and the policy actions needed for healthier, sustainable, and accessible food environments.
Using 13 key metrics, the report provides a snapshot of the current UK food environment and offers key policy actions that will help improve the food system. Findings of the report include:
- Healthier foods are twice as expensive per calorie as less healthy options.
- Over 37% of supermarket food and non-alcoholic drink promotions are on unhealthy food items.
- Over 26% of food outlets are fast-food establishments – this number rises to 33% in the most deprived areas.
In the UK healthy food options are less available and more expensive, making it harder to make healthier food choices. In two Action on Salt and Sugar surveys conducted for the report, we found a similar trend.
Survey #1 - Infant Snack Claims
In a review of snack products marketed towards babies and toddlers, of the 136 products analysed, we identified 759 promotional claims. This averaged as almost 6 nutritional, marketing, or health claims per product aimed at influencing parents’ purchasing decisions.
Using traffic light labelling thresholds for total sugars in these products, we found 24% were high in total sugar, 49% were medium, and 26% were low.
Comparing against the World Health Organisation’s guidelines on baby and toddler foods, every product analysed had at least one non-permitted claim, and 94% of all the claims on UK baby and toddler snacks would not be allowed if WHO guidance was followed.
Survey #2 - Children's Breakfast Cereals and Yogurts
In an analysis of breakfast cereals and yogurts marketed towards children, we revealed the lack of available healthy options.
We found only 3% of breakfast cereals and 5% of yogurts were classified as low in sugar, down from 7% and 8% respectively in years prior.
With the availability of low sugar breakfast cereals decreasing year on year since 2020, these findings reflect a move in the wrong direction.
This report acts as a stark reminder that more must be done if we are to reduce these health inequalities and promote healthier foods and lifestyles for our children.
A full version of the report can be found on the Food Foundation website.
