The new food blueprint – “The Good Food Cycle” is published

What does it mean for your food business?

The government has announced a major new strategy to bring together legislation, guidance, community involvement and industry initiatives and partnerships in one overall policy document. The outcomes relate primarily to England, although they have been designed to align with and support outcomes identified by the devolved governments in their respective food strategies.

The UK government’s food strategy for England, considering the wider UK food system, builds on the recently published NHS 10-year health plan.

It shows key directions of travel for the government and a proposal for what industry will be directed to focus on in the future.

The Good Food Cycle identifies ten priority outcomes and has cross referred these to the various legislation, policy and initiatives that are to be prioritised at Annex B: Summary of existing or ongoing UK government policy across the outcomes.

So, who are the winners and losers?

Overall, the push against high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products and seeking to restrict the promotion of so-called “less healthy” food remains a priority. However, there similarly seems to be an approach of seeking to support the reformulation of food and try to assist with food security and encourage innovation and sustainability within food production. A reference to a collaborative approach with a planned objective and consistency is one that will be welcome to the food and agribusiness sector.

We look at certain areas in more detail below.

“Less healthy” or HFFS foods

The first objective references access to healthier and more affordable food.

This also references more environmentally sustainable food sales, although in the paper it is accepted these were not necessarily the same thing.

“Under the good food cycle, the food industry will be incentivised to channel resources, investment, and marketing budgets towards healthier and more environmentally sustainable foods that consumers will want and can afford to buy.”

The policy aims associated with this are restrictions against ‘less healthy’ foods generally fall within the prior “Obesity Strategy” and the 13 (now updated to 15) categories of HFSS food as calculated under the Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) developed between 2004 and 2005.

• 9pm watershed for less healthy food or drink advertising on TV
• Restrictions on promotions of less healthy foods
• Food labelling (BOP nutrition, FOP voluntary traffic light, calorie content, allergy)
• Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL)

The recent House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee report, "Recipe for health: A plan to fix our broken food system", addresses the role of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and other factors in diet and health does not get a look in here. Although, the last two objectives listed also indicate encouragement of cultural and community involvement and baking/cooking.

Reference is also made to:

• Voluntary sugar, salt and calorie reduction and reformulation
• Mandatory fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour

There will therefore remain a voluntary aspect to reformulation but very much underpinned by the threat, for example the SDIL, which may lead the way to the replica in other food “taxes”.  

It is of particular note the restriction on location of HFSS food is not referenced here and so it may be assumed after a lacklustre effort of enforcement and causing increased costs for industry it is likely another restriction may be found that will place the onus on the end objective more effectively on the shoulders of the retailers ie data, see below.

Data

The Food Data Transparency Partnership (FDTP) is directly referenced.

The government last year stepped back from mandatory reporting of data via the Food Data Transparency Partnership (FDTP), but this looks set to be revised with the following policies listed:

• Mandatory healthy sales reporting
• Targets to increase the healthiness of sales

No further information is provided on who would be providing the reporting, what the boundaries may be and how targets may be enforced. 

The Good Food Cycle does reference communication and working with industry and so it is hoped that this will be a more structured arrangement than has currently been proposed.

It can be easy to lose track of the “why” in the rush to demand food businesses provide more and more information. The provision of a clear structure and goals that companies may then wish to signpost their compliance to as a foundation is vital.

However, there undoubtedly will be a move to push for increased data and for this to be in a more prescriptive form. The Good Food Cycle also states in its main text: “Increasing the transparency and traceability of supply chains can also help deliver on environmental outcomes, such as preventing deforestation in the food supply chain.”
This may therefore further indicate a move towards the EU on the reporting and green claim obligations especially as part of SPS negotiations with the EU.

Innovation and regulated products

Innovation and adoption of technology (including agritech) across the supply chain is held to hold high potential for growth. 

The support for gene editing, alternative proteins and the sandbox are all highlighted. Food is a central element of the ongoing Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement negotiations with the EU and will also need to be considered across a wider range of government policies. However, this is the clearest message of support of the government prioritising this area seen to date.

• Precision breeding regulations
• Food Standards Agency (FSA) food innovation hub supporting precision fermentation
• FSA/FSS cell cultivated products sandbox
• Farming Innovation Programme
• Industrial Strategy

Food security, sustainability and animal welfare

There are objectives that refer to food security, sustainability and environmental practices as well as employment and growth.

• Circular Economy Strategy
• Farming roadmap
• Farming Innovation Programme
• Fair Dealings regulations
• Farming Profitability Review
• Industrial Strategy
• Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund
• Reduce business admin costs by 25%
• Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS)
• Environmental Improvement Plan
• Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan
• Animal Welfare Strategy

A key reference here is if the government will deliver for the food sector on its commitment to cut administrative costs for businesses by 25% by the end of the parliament. It is not clear how this may be achieved from the Good Food Cycle itself, although the costs on agriculture and food businesses are referenced and the need for a collaborative approach where there is any requirement that may incur more costs.

“Some policies to deliver improved health, sustainability and resilience might increase costs to food businesses. These higher costs could be passed on to consumers in the form of higher food prices, reducing access. Therefore, as we develop implementation plans, we will carefully consider the impact on food prices, and affordability.”

Animal welfare is a key priority highlighted, alongside the environment, and this looks to be an area that will remain tightly regulated. 

Waste and carbon reduction remain also high priorities, again the conclusion may be made this is an area that may be more closely aligned with Europe: “A circular economy is a sustainable economy.”

Key priorities

A list of the 10 priorities is provided below:

Healthier and more affordable food  

1. An improved food environment that supports healthier and more environmentally sustainable food sales.

2. Access for all to safe, affordable, healthy, convenient and appealing food options.

Good growth  

3. Conditions for the food sector to thrive and grow sustainably, including investment in innovation and productivity, and fairer more transparent supply chains.

4. Food sector attracts talent and develops skilled workforce in every region.

Sustainable and resilient supply  

5. Food supply is environmentally sustainable with high animal welfare standards, and waste is reduced.

6. Trade supports environmentally sustainable growth, upholds British standards and expands export opportunities.

7. Resilient domestic production for a secure supply of healthier food.

8. Greater preparedness for supply chain shocks, disruption, and impacts of chronic risks.

Vibrant food cultures  

9. Celebrated and valued UK, regional and local food cultures.

10. People are more connected to their local food systems, and have the confidence, knowledge and skills to cook and eat healthily.

For more information or with any questions on this or other related food matters, please contact Katrina Anderson or Jessica Burt.