I was so pleased that the FSA was able to play a part in the cross-government plan to transform the UK into a more equal society, announced in the recent Levelling Up White Paper.
The plan focuses on spreading opportunity and prosperity to all parts of the UK by shifting government focus and resources to where it’s needed the most.
Across all of our work we are paying increasing attention to how we can help identify and reduce disparities; whether that is the regulatory burden on businesses or the food-related health inequalities between regions across the UK.
The Levelling Up White Paper recognises the work the FSA is doing with the Department for Education in relation to school meals. We are designing a pilot in England to understand how we can help raise standards for food in schools through an assurance process and support for school governors or local authorities where necessary.
Supporting healthy eating in schools is key to developing healthy habits for a lifetime, improving long-term health outcomes, and reducing diet-related disparities.
I hope this is just the start of expanding the work we do to deliver food you can trust. We are offering support to the Welsh government on their commitment to develop a Wales Community Food Strategy, which will encourage the supply of locally sourced food in Wales.
Additionally, we are talking with Welsh government about ways to support their Healthy Weight Healthy Wales programme.
In Northern Ireland, we are a key partner in the DAERA led Northern Ireland Food Strategy Framework and also welcome the insightful review by Sir Peter Kendall on the challenges and opportunities that the agri-food sector faces there.
With our dietary health remit and the current development of a new obesity strategy in Northern Ireland, we will continue to be a key partner in its development and implementation.
As we emerge from the pandemic and continue to adjust to the changes brought about by EU exit, we are looking forward to how the FSA can play its part in delivering a safe, healthy and sustainable food system for the future.
At the FSA Board meeting on Wednesday 9 March 2022, we will be discussing how we will do this through our new strategy. Register now to stream the meeting and join that discussion.