Members of the public often feel powerless to change a dysfunctional food system but a growing movement seeks to put citizen voices at the heart of policy development. By Nick Hughes.
Citizens can. You’d be forgiven for believing big businesses are uniquely qualified to shape the future of the food system based solely on the make-up of the government’s food strategy expert group. The industry-dominated group (7 of 11 non-government representatives) is tasked with advising ministers on the development of a cross-governmental food strategy for England. Less remarked upon, is that those leading the food strategy also plan to engage with the general public via a series of citizen engagement sessions. This is good news for the many experts and organisations who believe all of us should have the agency to shape the food environments in which we live.
Say yes to nanny. Objections to government interventions in the food system often centre on a distaste for ‘nanny statism’, a pejorative term regularly deployed by politicians (usually of the right) and parts of the tabloid press to push back against regulatory measures. The subtext is that the ‘great British public’ doesn’t like being told what to do and we demand the freedom to make our own food choices. Yet this narrative not only ignores a wealth of academic literature on how food environments (via marketing, accessibility and pricing for example) shape those choices, but growing evidence that citizens are crying out for governments to intervene to enable healthier, more sustainable food choices.
Manifesto for change. The latest example comes in the shape of the recent launch of a ‘Citizen manifesto to fix food’. Led by the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC), the manifesto is the culmination of nearly two years of conversations with citizens across the country to find out what people really want from food. Through in-depth deliberations in 12 parts of the country, encompassing over 75 community conversations, citizens explored a wide range of policy interventions proposed by the likes of Henry Dimbleby’s National Food Strategy, the Obesity Health Alliance, the Food Foundation, Which? and others. FFCC was careful to include people from all demographics and backgrounds to make the findings representative of the UK population. Participants debated a wide range of topic areas from the quality of public sector food to farmers being fairly supported.
Just do it! The results are striking. Across a wide range of measures there is majority support from citizens for those responsible for setting policy to “do it”; other options being to “test it”, “debate it” and “don’t do it”. These include introducing a regulatory framework that ensures fair dealing between retailers and suppliers/intermediaries, and farmers, and incentivising farmers to change to sustainable farming methods. There is strong support too for increasing the participation of smaller and local suppliers in public food procurement for schools, hospitals and prisons, and to set requirements for nutritious food and drinks in early years’ settings, such as nurseries.
Yes to taxes. Contrary to the dominant political narrative of the day, people aren’t spooked by the prospect of tax increases either. Most are in favour of taxing businesses that profit from polluting, such as companies that make pesticides and fertilisers or encourage intensive meat production. Stronger action on health also garners approval with majority support for the government to set a target to reduce how much ultra-processed food the UK eats, and to enact the government’s proposed plan to restrict junk food advertising on TV until after 9pm.
Time for courage. The manifesto notes how, historically, politicians have proceeded with caution and avoided intervention in the food system. Yet now is the time to provide “clear, consistent, courageous leadership”, according to participants. They call for “a coalition for a good food mission” to be built across the whole food system, spanning public health, farmers and growers, progressive businesses, civil society organisations and more.
People power. As warnings abound over a food system in crisis, perhaps it really is time to listen to the people.
