First ever national food strategy rejects calls to tax salt and sugar in processed foods
Cornwall minister George Eustice insists it will focus on skills in the food sector
Last updated 13th Jun 2022
A Cornwall minister is defending England's first ever national food strategy, despite the fact it appears to reject recommendations like taxing sugar and salt in processed foods.
Environment Secretary and Camborne and Redruth MP, George Eustice, insists the strategy, described by Boris Johnson as "backing farmers", will focus on skills in the food sector.
The strategy, being published on Monday, is in response to a major review of our food system by Leon restaurant co-founder Henry Dimbleby.
Ministers are aiming to strengthen the resilience of the nation’s supply chains and increase domestic production, so "we will grow and eat more of our own food", to help guard against future economic shocks and crises.
The Prime Minister, who visited a farm in Cornwall on Monday morning, said it sets out how the Government will support farmers, boost British industry and safeguard food security.
But ministers have been accused of concocting a blueprint "bordering on the preposterous", apparently shunning key recommendations from Mr Dimbleby’s review.
A leaked draft of the strategy, published by The Guardian on Friday, caused a stir when it appeared to reveal calls for a sugar and salt reformulation tax, along with a suggestion that the budget for farmer payments should be guaranteed until 2029, had been ignored.
Critics blast food strategy as "bordering on the preposterous"
Campaigners also criticised elements of the plan they judged to be "goading" farmers into producing more meat.
The National Farmers Union said ministers had "stripped to the bone" proposals from the Dimbleby review, while Labour said the document was "nothing more than a statement of vague intentions".
Launching the strategy on Monday, the Government said it had accepted "the majority of recommendations" from the report, with policy initiatives to boost health, sustainability and accessibility of diets, and to secure food supply.
One clear priority for ministers is to reduce the distance between farm and fork, with a vision for 50% of public sector food spend to go on food produced locally or certified to higher standards.
The strategy also sets out plans to create a new professional body for the farming and growing industry, to boost training and develop clear career pathways, equipping people and businesses with the skills needed to run sustainable and profitable businesses.
Mr Johnson said: "Our food strategy sets out a blueprint for how we will back farmers, boost British industry and help protect people against the impacts of future economic shocks by safeguarding our food security.
"Harnessing new technologies and innovation, we will grow and eat more of our own food – unlocking jobs across the country and growing the economy, which in turn will ultimately help to reduce pressure on prices".
Government insists food strategy will "back farmers"
Environment Secretary and Duchy MP George Eustice said: "The food industry is bigger than the automotive and aerospace industries combined, offering employment opportunities, apprenticeships and investment in research and development.
"The strategy we are setting out today will increase the focus on skills in the food sector, and the roles and career pathways available. In particular, we will seek to boost our horticulture industry and ensure the expertise needed to develop the sector here in the UK".
The plan confirms a number of elements of the leaked draft, including an intention to launch an independent review to tackle labour shortages in the food supply chain, and to consult on how to improve on and expand animal welfare labelling.
The Government will also explore how to make the most of feed additives that can reduce methane emissions from livestock, publish a framework for land use in England next year, and consult on food waste reporting for larger businesses over a certain size.
The Food Foundation called the paper "disappointing", saying it "misses this mark" as many of its commitments will "flounder without new legislation to make them stick".
The charity’s executive director, Anna Taylor, said: "Despite its name, the whole document is lacking a strategy to transition the food system towards delivering good food which is accessible to everyone".
She described it as a "feeble interpretation" of Henry Dimbleby's recommendations, adding that without a commitment to a new Food Bill, may of the commitments are "toothless".