DEFRA: National Food Strategy - Call for Evidence

The Strategy provides an important opportunity for a coherent approach across government to tackle the many challenges facing the food system and consumers, from obesity to climate change. People must have access to healthy, safe, sustainable and affordable food and be in a position to make informed choices.

Which?’s research shows that people expect the UK to maintain and ideally enhance food standards after Brexit. Many worry about food prices, but expect standards will be maintained for safety, quality and welfare. People want to support UK producers, particularly for meat and dairy products. Most think that farmers should be supported by government, but that support should lead to animal welfare, food safety, animal health and other improvements.

People feel generally well informed about healthy eating, but struggle to put this into practice. They are less informed about wider sustainability. They support improvements to labelling, particularly for ethical, environmental or animal welfare. Simplified information, such as traffic light labelling, is supported.

 Government leadership is expected to drive sustainable business practices. Our research shows support for actions to improve the products on offer and their marketing. This includes addressing the unhealthy balance of price promotions and driving product reformulation (eg. lower fat, sugar and salt).

People also have strong views about production methods. They are uncomfortable about antimicrobial and hormone growth promoters and end-process carcass treatments permitted in other countries but not the UK, even if labelled, whatever their income level.