ITV News’ Kathryn Samson reports the leaked paper The government has been accused of devising a food strategy for England that ‘borders on the irrational’, with a leaked document suggesting that ministers were going to reject key recommendations from a major overhaul. Calls for a sugar and salt tax recast seem to be ignored, and no promise has been made to guarantee the budget for farm payments at least until 2029 to facilitate the transition to more sustainable land use. Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove announced in 2019 that Leon restaurant co-founder Henry Dimbleby was to lead a review of the UK food system to ensure it was “safe, healthy and affordable” for everyone. Mr Gove said he had instructed Dibbleby to research the entire system “from field to fork” to ensure that it would be robust “in the face of future shocks” and provide healthy and affordable food “no matter where people live or how much they earn” ». . The review was also designed to explore how the food system could help restore and improve the natural environment, create a resilient and sustainable agricultural sector, and contribute to urban and rural economies. In his final report, published in 2021, Mr. Dimbleby called for a sugar and salt reform tax as a key part of the nation’s efforts to change its diet to include less sugar, salt and meat to protect health. and the environment. But that seemed to be snooping on ministers in a draft White Paper on the government’s leaked food strategy, ahead of its expected release on Monday. The Guardian and the Financial Times reported that the document did not follow the proposal. Instead, he said: “The government can set a clear direction for industry and ensure that consumers have the power with information to make better food choices. “The government should also motivate industry to reshape and promote healthier foods that are more affordable, and to plan and deliver policy actions that lead to improvements throughout the food environment.” Cabinet Minister Michael Gove Credit: Oli Scarff / PA In his report, Mr. Dimbleby said some of the money raised from the tax should be spent on tackling food inequalities by extending free school meals, funding holiday activities and food clubs, and providing healthy eating in low-income families. He also called on ministers to ensure that the budget for payments to farmers to reap environmental benefits, such as nature conservation, flood prevention and soil improvement, will be guaranteed at least until 2029. But that too was ignored in the draft White Paper, the FT said, with the government reiterating its commitment to maintain the budget in the current Parliament. Labor criticized the leaked document as “nothing more than a statement of vague intentions”. Jim McMahon, the shadow foreign minister for the environment, food and agriculture, said: taxes. It is now clear that the Government has absolutely no ambition to rectify the chaos it has created. “A food strategy is vital, but the government has prevented it, delayed it and now it has failed to deliver. “This is nothing more than a statement of vague intentions, not the specific proposals to address the big issues facing our country. “Calling it a ‘nutritional strategy’ borders on the absurd.” Do you want a quick and specific update on the biggest news? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out what you need to know The draft White Paper, published in full by The Guardian, stated that the government had accepted “much of the analysis” and “the majority of the recommendations” from the Dimbleby review, with policy initiatives to enhance health and sustainability. accessibility to diets and food safety. Supply. He said the food strategy focused on “long-term measures to support a resilient, healthier and more sustainable food system that is accessible to all, rather than overshadowing work on the cost of living”. The government appears to be moving forward with some of Mr Dimbleby’s proposals, including consulting on mandatory reporting of food waste to businesses of a certain size. The paper also said ministers would “support progress on a wide range of issues, including alternative proteins”, after the review urged the government to “push” consumers to change their meat-eating habits. The Ministry of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it had not commented on leaked documents, but a spokesman added: “We will set out the content of our ambitious new food strategy in due course.”
