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Blog: Government offers an extra £40m for fruit and veg sector (good), but what’s it for?

This week, the Government offered a package of support for the fruit and veg sector, on the eve of a Farm to Fork Summit of big food and farming businesses at Number 10, focusing on food security. We took a temperature test with several members of the Sustain food and farming alliance. This is what we heard.
Sustainable Farming Campaign | Wednesday 15 May 2024

Page: Healthy Start map: Estimated loss to families in 2024

In April 2024, on average only 62.4% of entitled beneficiaries were receiving Healthy Start payments. The Healthy Start Scheme helps eligible pregnant women and parents of young children buy fruit, vegetables, pulses, milk, first infant formula and vitamins. Infants under the age of 1 are entitled to a weekly payment of £8.50, while pregnant women and children under 4 are entitled to £4.25. More information on the Healthy Start Scheme and how to apply can be found here. As a result of low uptake due to lack of awareness of eligibility, more than 220,000 beneficiaries* in England, Northern Ireland and Wales are missing out on this much-needed scheme - a huge loss to families struggling to cover the enduringly high cost of living. In our Healthy Start Map we highlight the estimated value of unclaimed payments** in each Local Authority, as well as the average take up in each area as of April 2024. Scotland’s Best Start Foods Grant, which is run separately by the Scottish Government, has a 92% uptake rate. Payments are also higher at £5.30 per week for pregnant mothers and children aged 1 to 4, and £10.60 per week for infants under 1. Together with the Food Foundation and other organisations advocating improvements to the Healthy Start Scheme, Sustain is calling on Government policy-makers to: move toward auto-enrolment onto the scheme to ensure all eligible families benefit increase the value of Healthy Start payments in line with inflation expand eligibility to all families on Universal Credit, to mirror the Best Start Foods Scheme expand eligibility to all families with young children with No Recourse to Public Funds who are on very low incomes. Read our joint policy position statement in full.
Food Poverty

Blog: Shaking up government action on salt

It’s no secret that eating too much salt can have a significant impact on our health, but avoiding it is not easy. This Salt Awareness Week, Lucy Hewitson explains why British Heart Foundation (BHF) is calling on the Government to act decisively to tackle one of the UK’s key risk factors for heart attack and stroke, including considering use of salt levies on unhealthy food.
Recipe for Change | Tuesday 14 May 2024

News: Salt Awareness Week shines spotlight on out-of-home salt in children's meals

Restaurants are being urged to act for children's health, as new research by Action on Sugar reveals some children's menus contains more than a day's maximum intake of salt contained in just one meal. Children's Food Campaign responds.
Children's Food Campaign | Tuesday 14 May 2024

Page: Building access through local retail

This Bridging the Gap scoping report explores the potential of local food infrastructure to increase the accessibility of climate and nature friendly food for people who experience low income.
Bridging the Gap

Article: Toast for good health

Lauren Rathbone introduces Best Food Forward, which aims to provide good food education for all.
Real Bread Campaign | Monday 13 May 2024

News: Research partner wanted to evaluate Good Food Local programme in London

Following 12 fruitful years of tracking council action on food in London, Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming are looking for a research partner to evaluate their Good Food Local approach in London.
Good Food Local | Friday 10 May 2024

Page: International policy case studies

In 2023, Bridging the Gap conducted desk based research into international examples of policies that might help to bridge the gap to climate and nature friendly food for people on lower incomes. The most relevant case studies, compiled here according to Bridging the Gap’s six thematic approaches, demonstrate the potential for policy change that will have a real and last impact on the availability of climate and nature friendly food in the UK.
Bridging the Gap

Page: Investing in food hubs and wholesaler supply chains

This Bridging the Gap scoping report explores how investing in food hubs and wholesaler supply chains for organic fruit and vegetables would increase access to climate and nature-friendly food for all. By sourcing locally, reducing food waste, and offering cost-effective, direct-to-consumer models, these initiatives can promote affordability, provide fresh and nutritious options, create jobs, educate communities about sustainable practices, and support small-scale producers. All this contributes to healthier, more equitable food systems.
Bridging the Gap

Page: Recognising the value of horticulture

This Bridging the Gap scoping report explores the promotion of horticulture and the shift towards organic farming as an avenue for more affordable organic produce.
Bridging the Gap

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