Over 100 Retailers, Businesses, NGOs Call For Government Policy To Transform UK Food Security
- Feb 25
- 3 min read
A coalition of more than 100 organisations is urging the UK government to introduce a landmark Good Food Bill to fix what they describe as a failing food system that threatens national security, public health, and the viability of food businesses.
Retailers, manufacturers, investors, health bodies, NGOs, academics, and farming organisations are uniting behind the call, signalling an unusual level of alignment across the food chain on the need for long-term, legally-backed reform.
Who Is Backing The Bill?
Businesses including leading food retailers and manufacturers Marks & Spencer, Danone, Co-op Group, Bidfood, The Compleat Food Group, together with major caterers Elior and Sodexo, have joined health organisations and NGOs.
They have put their names to a joint statement calling for new primary legislation that champions transformational food system change.
Led by The Food Foundation, Sustain, and Green Alliance, the announcement comes as YouGov polling finds that a clear majority of the public believes government should do more.
69% of people think the government should be doing more to ensure everyone can afford and access healthy food.
65% of people support a 'Food Bill' that would introduce duties and targets on government bodies to make healthy food more accessible and affordable.
Half (53%) of people think the current state of international affairs has made protecting the UK food supply ‘more important.’
Why Now?
The coalition argues that the UK’s food supply is facing unprecedented challenges.
Last month the government’s own research warned that in the increasingly likely event of continued biodiversity loss and the collapse of vital ecosystems, the UK could face food shortages, increased food prices and a threat to national security.
The coalition says this demonstrates just how important a coordinated approach to the food system is for the UK’s health, the economy, and the planet.
They believe new legislation offers a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for the government to protect citizens, farmers, and food businesses.
What Would A Bill Do?
A ‘Good Food Bill’ would put into place the long-term duties required by government to deliver important wins.
It would enshrine in law policies, targets and ambitions to improve public health, reduce inequalities, protect the environment, and improve UK resilience, while safeguarding progress from short-term political cycles.
New legislation would “transform the food system for generations to come” by locking in change, providing certainty, and protecting progress from shifting political priorities, according to Anna Taylor, Executive Director at The Food Foundation.
“With food strategies and legislation already in place across the devolved nations, this is a timely opportunity for Westminster to introduce legislation that benefits the whole UK,” Taylor said.
“We are calling on the Government to seize this moment, commit to new primary legislation and lead the change needed to build a food system fit for the future.”
A strong cross-government commitment, supported by industry, would increase domestic food supply and ensure national food security, added Andrew Clappen, Director of Food Technology at M&S Food.
“We support this call for a Good Food Bill, to refocus our national approach to build sustainable supply chains, increase investment in climate resilience and support farmers and growers to put nutritious food on our plates,” Clappen explained.
Bidfood’s Head of Sustainability, Julie Owst, said a Good Food Bill is needed now more than ever.
“On the back of the recent UK government report into growing threats to national security and food availability and affordability, we absolutely need intervention and legislation to improve UK food supply resilience, and the livelihoods and productivity of those working to provide food – as the current trajectory means the needs of the UK population won’t be met – and this inconvenient truth needs acknowledgement and action,” warned Owst.
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