Fix food environments to tackle obesity, says new Health Committee report

Sustain welcomes the Food and Weight Management: Fixing the food environment report and its strong set of recommendations, as well as the Committee's recognition that obesity is shaped by a food environment that often makes unhealthy options the easiest and cheapest to find.

The report calls for stronger restrictions on unhealthy food advertising, improvements to the Healthy Start scheme, stronger planning powers to support healthier neighbourhoods, and ensure public health policies are not undermined and “stand up to challenge from industry”.

In particular, the report highlights the Healthy Start scheme as ‘a lifeline for many families who might otherwise struggle to find the budget for healthier foods for their children’, but flags issues which are preventing the scheme from meeting its full potential. These reflect recommendations made by Sustain and The Food Foundation, whose recent work has highlighted the significant benefits that could be achieved by improving the scheme, including expanding eligibility so more children in poverty benefit, and increasing the value of payments to keep track with inflation.

Kath Dalmeny, Chief Executive, Sustain, says

“Food prices are on the rise, with price inflation predicted to bite especially hard towards the end of 2026 and into 2027. Food insecurity is higher among families with children, millions of whom already struggle to feed their children the good food they need to thrive. For families on a low income, Healthy Start is a key nutritional security scheme helping pregnant people and young children to afford fruit, veg and milk. Expanding the scheme to reach more families living in poverty, and increasing the value in recognition of rising food prices, would help families nourish their children, even through hard financial times.”

The report also acknowledges the success of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy in encouraging manufacturers to reformulate drinks, as well as the role of taxation in creating a healthier food environment more broadly. A separate response from the Recipe for Change coalition, of which Sustain is a founding member, sets out recommendations for further action on food reformulation and fiscal measures to improve public health.

Kate Howard, Recipe for Change Campaign Coordinator says:

"We welcome the Committee’s clear direction that government must take a stronger role in shaping a healthier food system and holding the food industry accountable for its impact on public health. The Government should act swiftly on the recommendations in this report, particularly those that encourage greater accountability across the food industry. But they should also be prepared to go further. Building on the success of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy through new fiscal measures on food could help accelerate reformulation and generate funding to improve access to healthy food for families who need it most."

On marketing and advertising, the committee’s conclusion is that the current regulations still “leave the majority of unhealthy advertising untouched, restricting the intention of limiting exposure”. It points to loopholes in brand and range advertising plus social media advertising, digital advertising, sport sponsorship, online gaming and direct marketing through app notification, outdoor advertising as areas needing further attention.    

Fran Bernhardt, Commercial Determinants Coordinator says:

“We applaud the Committee’s call to close some of the loopholes that allow unhealthy food advertising on TV, online and outdoors. However, there are still so many ways that unhealthy food is cast in the starring role in children’s minds, including print, radio and cinema. The Government’s own research shows restricting only across a few places will simply mean unhealthy food advertising increases elsewhere. To truly prioritise our children’s health, the Government must keep unhealthy food out of the spotlight in all locations.”

Taken together, the Committee’s recommendations offer the Government a clear, practical set of actions in line with its ambitions to support a healthier food system. Sustain urges ministers to seize this opportunity and implement the report’s recommendations in full, prioritising the long-term health of children, families and communities across the UK.

The Health and Social Care Committee’s report follows its inquiry into food and weight management, to which Sustain and many of its member organisations submitted evidence.