Seventh Report - Food security

Select Committee
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee HC 622 28 July 2023
Report Status Government responded
Conclusions & Recommendations 23 items (15 recs)
Government Response (AI assessment · 23 of 23 classified)

Recommendations

2 results
18 Rejected
Para 78
Undertake and publish full impact assessment of a sugar and salt reformulation tax
Recommendation
The Government rejected the NFSIR’s proposals to break the junk food cycle, including the sugar and salt reformulation tax proposal. While such a tax may cause consumer prices to rise, it may lead consumers to substitute cheaper healthier Food Security … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to undertake and publish an impact assessment of a sugar and salt reformulation tax, stating it is not the right time to introduce new taxes that would increase food costs amidst cost-of-living pressures.
21 Rejected
Para 84
Broaden regulations to ban all HFSS food price promotions and meal deals
Recommendation
We are not convinced that the delay to banning certain volume price promotions for HFSS food will save consumers money, given the Government’s own analysis on this matter. Of less doubt is that it will make the fight against unhealthy … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the committee's recommendations to forecast obesity rates, broaden HFSS food promotion restrictions, ban certain meal deals, and extend coverage to all food shops, reiterating its decision to delay existing volume price promotion restrictions until October 2025 due to cost of living concerns and stating meal deals are excluded.
2 Conclusion Rejected
Para 10
The UK Food Security Report (UKFSR) is a vital document to provide transparency about whether the UK will achieve each of the five elements of food security the Government is required to report on, and the associated risks to them. The analysis within the UKFSR should be central to steering …
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to publish an annual UK Food Security Report (UKFSR), stating that the Agriculture Act 2020 only requires it every three years, many measures are already published annually elsewhere, and the next report will be published next year.