On 15 July 2025, the UK government published a policy paper, ‘food strategy for England, considering the wider UK food system’.
The DEFRA paper, which can be found at the link below, defines the food strategy as ‘the process by which we move from the food system we have now, to the food system we want to see in the future’.
It ‘is the start of a proudly patriotic campaign’, although ‘the priority outcomes and policies … relate to England only’.
This highlights an important issue in the context of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom because many areas of food policy are devolved. The strategy recognises that the ‘UK food system is made up of smaller regional and local food systems and is embedded in the wider European and global food systems’. As such it ‘is aligned with and supports the devolved governments [sic] approach to food policy’.
The transformation that the strategy hopes to achieve is ‘making nutritious, locally grown British food more accessible for all’. This reflects the challenges of rising obesity, food insecurity and child poverty and the policy is a ‘matter of fairness, dignity and national strength’.
One of the key challenges in reforming the UK’s food system is that it is vast and highly complex. Some if its components are subject to a degree of control (e.g. making food a key feature of the educational curriculum including hygiene, nutrition and cooking from scratch) whereas others are less so (e.g. volatility due to events such as international conflict and global crises such as Covid-19).
The strategy has ten outcomes. Annex A contains a summary of each one but highlights how they are interlinked and interdependent. The outcomes are grouped under four general headings; healthier and more affordable food (outcomes one and two), good growth (three and four), sustainable and resilient supply (five to eight) and vibrant food cultures (nine and ten).
Annex B provides a summary of existing UK government policy across each outcome. A brief review serves to highlight the complexity of the problem, the broad range of potential solutions and the enormity of the task ahead.
While full of good intentions, achieving this ‘once in a generation opportunity for change’, may be overly ambitious, particularly in the context of many decisions being the result of political choices.
Knowledge about nutrition, healthy food and cooking skills is fundamental to an understanding of the positive impact food has on individuals, families, communities and countries. However, they must compete with modern culture involving processed foods, food that is high in fat, sugar or salt, fast food and on demand delivery.
Outcome ten has the potential to deliver a short-term significant impact on the future for food health in the UK, ‘People are more connected to their local food systems and have the confidence. Knowledge and skills to cook and eat healthily’.
Even if the strategy delivers in part, it will help guide future generations on the path to making informed decisions that benefit their health and the environment.
A UK government food strategy for England, considering the wider UK food system – GOV.UK
Please do not hesitate to contact me for further information on this strategy or any other food related matters in England and Wales or the Republic of Ireland.
Ian Thomas can be contacted at ian@ianthomasassociates.com
He also practises from Gough Square Chambers, London – ian.thomas@goughsq.co.uk
This article is provided for information only and does not constitute legal advice. Formal legal advice should always be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action.
Any comment or views expressed in this article are personal.