HEALTH

Council leaders criticise food strategy as 'missed opportunity'

Local authority leaders have criticised the Government’s new food strategy as a 'missed opportunity'.

Local authority leaders have criticised the Government's new food strategy as a 'missed opportunity'.

In its response to a review of the UK's food system, the Government focused on encouraging home-grown food, boosting production and strengthening supply chains.

However, there are no plans to adopt the first recommendation in the report, which was a tax on sugar and salt.

Chairman of the Local Government Association's community wellbeing board, David Fothergill, said: ‘Obesity and diet-related health issues are one of the biggest public health challenges we face, with the cost of treating obesity-related ill health forecast to rise to £9.7bn a year by 2050.

‘The strategy response represents a missed opportunity to tackle the underlying causes of many of these issues, which will continue to be exacerbated by the growing cost of living crisis.

'Unless the Government takes urgent action, its ambition to halve childhood obesity by 2030 will be missed.'

Cllr Fothergill continued: ‘We are urging the Government to act now to ensure healthy food remains affordable to those who need it the most to protect the most vulnerable in our society.'

The latest data shows that around 64% of adults and 40% of children in England are overweight or living with obesity.

HEALTH

The new health duty on strategic authorities: getting it right

By Tom Lloyd Goodwin | 27 June 2025

If designed and implemented effectively, the new health duty on strategic authorities could play a crucial role in advancing health equity alongside economic...

HEALTH

The secret ingredient is community crowdfunding

By Frank Kibble | 27 June 2025

In London Climate Action Week, Frank Kibble explains how everyday climate activism is being being funded by communities - with support from their council.

HEALTH

With opportunity comes great responsibility

By Laura Murphy | 27 June 2025

Laura Murphy and Andrew Stilwell look at the importance of strong, collaborative leadership as organisations navigate through this new era of digital transfo...

HEALTH

How to make leadership radical, capable and agile

By Kim Wright | 27 June 2025

With the LGA Conference on 1-3 July imminent, Kim Wright – who will speak at the event – says investing in the best local government leaders is a necessity a...

Popular articles by William Eichler