FDF response to Health and Social Committee report on Food and Weight Management

The Food and Drink Federation has responded to the Health and Social Committee’s report ‘Food and Weight Management: Fixing the food environment’, Third Report of Session 2026–27:

Kate Halliwell, Chief Scientific Officer, The Food and Drink Federation (FDF):

“Food and drink manufacturers remain committed to continuing to work with government to tackle obesity and poor diets. It’s good that the Committee acknowledged the progress manufacturers are making to reduce salt, sugar and calories in everyday food, and to increase fibre. We appreciate their support too for a scheme to help smaller businesses change recipes to make products healthier. However, we agree that more still needs to be done and so we support the Committee’s call for government to bring forward plans to introduce mandatory reporting of healthier food sales.

“However, we don’t agree that food and drink manufacturers should be excluded from discussions on health policy. Government needs advice from the people who make food to understand if new policies are workable in practice. This expertise doesn’t exist in government departments. The proposed 2018 NPM is a case in point – industry wasn’t consulted when the model was redesigned and we now have serious concerns that it will be unworkable.

“On the advertising and promotion restrictions, these have only just come into force. Our clear view is that government needs to assess whether the regulation is having an impact and how before deciding to impose further changes.”