UK retailers urge PM Andy Burnham to pass Good Food Bill
More than 100 businesses and charities, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Waitrose, the Co‑op and manufacturers such as Danone, have signed a joint letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging the introduction of a statutory Good Food Bill. The signatories, which together account for over 64 % of the UK grocery market, argue that food security should be a national priority alongside energy and defence.
The letter cites a series of pressures on the UK food system: domestic fruit and vegetable production has fallen 16 % since 2015, while 78 % of those products are now imported; fertiliser prices have risen roughly 40 % over the past year due to international conflict; and climate‑related extreme weather and wildfires are increasing supply‑chain vulnerability. Researchers project that food prices could be about 50 % higher by November than at the start of the 2021 cost‑of‑living crisis. Around 15 % of households with children are already experiencing food insecurity.
The proposed Good Food Bill would require future governments to publish five‑year action plans and set legally binding targets on childhood obesity, household food insecurity, fruit‑and‑vegetable consumption and the proportion of produce grown in Britain, with an independent body to monitor progress.
Entities: Andy Burnham · Danone · Food Foundation · Good Food Bill · Sainsbury’s · Tesco · UK Government
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 5 SOURCES] British fruit and vegetable production has fallen by 16% since 2015. (new)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The UK imports around 78% of its fruit and vegetables. (new)
- [● 7 SOURCES] More than 100 organisations signed a letter urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to introduce a Good Food Bill. (new)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The coalition represents more than 64% of the UK grocery market. (new)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Fertiliser prices have risen by around 40% over the past year due to international conflict. (new)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Food prices are forecast to be about 50% higher by November than at the start of the 2021 cost‑of‑living crisis. (new)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The proposed Good Food Bill would require future governments to publish five‑year action plans and set legally binding targets on childhood obesity, household food insecurity, fruit‑and‑vegetable use. (new)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Food insecurity affects roughly 15% of households with children in the UK. (new)