Forty eight organisations have joined forces to propose policies to improve plant-rich diets in the Government’s food strategy. A recent National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) found just 9% of children and 17% of adults meet the ‘five-a-day' recommendation for fruit and vegetables.
The ten point plan has been endorsed by organisations and businesses from the food, farming, health, sustainability and animal welfare sectors. Those supporting the plan include the Food Foundation, the British Growers Association, UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, Doctors’ Association UK, Oatly and Compassion in World Farming.
A poll conducted by organisations behind the plan, found that 69% of respondents said the Government should do more to help people eat fruit, vegetables and other plant-based foods.
Dr Matthew Lee, sustainability lead from Doctors Association UK, commented: “The evidence is unequivocal that people in the UK are not eating enough plant-based foods – in particular, vegetables, pulses, legumes, fruit, nuts, seeds and wholegrains - and that public health will improve if we can secure a transition towards more plant-rich diets. That dietary transition can reduce the burden of disease and ease pressure on the NHS. The Government has everything to gain by taking action.”
The Ten Points are:
- Leverage public procurement and catering to source and provide more plant-based foods, normalising plant-rich diets and catalysing growth in the market.
- Encourage food supply companies to transition towards a higher proportion of sales of plant-based foods.
- Bolster food security and economic growth through support for the horticulture sector to produce more fruit, vegetables, nuts, beans and pulses in the UK.
- Support British farmers to increase production and provision of plant proteins for human consumption in the UK.
- Make it easier and more affordable for people to access and eat healthy food.
- Raise public understanding of the health and environmental benefits of healthy plant-rich foods and diets.
- Improve labelling to raise public understanding of health, environmental and animal welfare impacts.
- Improve training for health and food professionals in regard to healthy plant-rich foods.
- Update, reform and apply the Eatwell Guide dietary guidelines.
- Increase investment in and support for healthy, sustainable alternative proteins.
The plan has been submitted to new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Emma Reynolds and Defra Minister Dame Angela Eagle.