ASO welcomes the findings of the House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity inquiry into the influence of ‘Ultra Processed foods’ and those high in fat, sugar, and salt on health outcomes.
The publication comes after the committee considered evidence from a range of experts, including ASO’s Professor Maria Bryant.
We were pleased to attend the launch of the report in Parliament, which brought together parliamentarians, researchers, health professionals and campaigners to discuss how to deliver the bold, systemic changes needed to improve the nation’s diet and health.
We wholly support the recommendations in the report, including demands for the government to develop a comprehensive, integrated long-term new strategy to fix our food system, underpinned by a new legislative framework.
The new government now must offer decisive action to build a food system that creates lasting change in the food system, protects the NHS, and enables us all to live healthy lives.
Key Recommendations from the Report
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The report characterises obesity and diet-related disease as a public health emergency, urging the government to adopt a comprehensive, integrated long-term food strategy, backed by legislation.
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It calls for mandatory regulatory shifts, including:
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A salt and sugar reformulation tax aimed at reducing unhealthy ingredients—building on the success of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy.
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A total ban on advertising unhealthy food across all media by the end of this Parliament, going beyond current advertising restrictions that come into effect in October 2025.
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Strong accountability, requiring large food manufacturers to report on the healthiness of their sales, and excluding businesses reliant on less healthy products from contributing to food policy debates.
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ASO’s Position
We fully endorse the Lord’s report and its bold, systemic vision. Fixing our broken food system is essential to safeguarding public health, reducing inequalities, and stabilising pressures on the NHS.
ASO stands ready to support the Government in turning these recommendations into action through policy development, expert insight, and cross-sector collaboration.
