100+ organisations call for Good Food Bill

What we eat – and what we can afford to eat – is an increasing concern in the UK. Ongoing cost-of-living pressures and rising fresh food prices mean that around one in 10 households in the UK face food insecurity. At the same time, worries about the impact of ultra-processed foods on our health and well-being continue to grow, not to mention that 78% of us say we would eat healthier if nutritious food cost less. It’s no wonder that major organisations are starting to push for change.

Over 100 organisations, including charities, supermarkets, food businesses, and investors, are calling for a Good Food Bill. But what’s being proposed, and what could it mean for us?

How could a Good Food Bill reshape UK food policy?

Led by The Food Foundation, Sustain and Green Alliance, experts warn the government that the resilience and fairness of the UK food system require urgent attention, particularly given the long-term implications for public health. With 69% of people thinking that the government should be doing more to ensure everyone can afford – and access – healthy food, 65% of people support the idea of a ‘Food Bill’ that would set measurable accountability standards and benchmarks to ensure healthy food is more accessible and affordable. 

Businesses, including major food retailers and manufacturers, caterers, health organisations, charities including Barnardo’s, Diabetes UK, and the British Heart Foundation, as well as NGOs, have joined together in calling for a Good Food Bill. 

Andrew Clappen, Director of Food Technology at M&S Food, said: "To ensure national food security, we need a strong cross-Government commitment, which is supported by industry.

"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."

Supporters of the proposed bill point to the financial barriers shaping everyday food decisions and argue that affordability heavily influences dietary patterns. Healthy food for all should not be reserved for those who can afford it; it’s essential for a healthy, fair society. 

The introduction of a food bill could help:

• improve access to affordable, nutritious food
• reduce health and income-related inequalities
• address rising food prices and food poverty
• support more sustainable and climate-resilient supply chains

How widespread is food insecurity in the UK?

The use of food banks has more than doubled in recent years, with 51% more emergency food parcels delivered in 2024-25. Currently in the UK, the Trussell Trust network alone distributed 2.9 million emergency food parcels between April 2024 and March 2025. That’s roughly one food parcel every 11 seconds. Over 1.8 million of these parcels went to families with children. Data suggests that 4% of all UK individuals used a foodbank, with 11% of us in the UK experiencing food poverty. 

While food banks are meant as emergency support, rising usage suggests that they are becoming a lifeline for many, with demand often outstripping supply. Campaigners hope that statutory backing could help move beyond short-term initiatives and towards long-term change.

Why affordable nutrition is a public health issue

Research consistently shows that food insecurity is associated with poorer physical and mental health outcomes. When healthier options are unaffordable or inaccessible, households are more likely to rely on cheaper, energy-dense foods that are often higher in salt, sugar and saturated fat. Over time, this dietary pattern can increase the risk of diet-related conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and certain cancers.

The impact of food insecurity extends beyond the physical. Food insecurity is linked to higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression in both adults and adolescents. Not knowing whether there will be enough money to buy food can take a significant toll on everyone. For families, this pressure can be compounded by the emotional strain of trying to shield children from the reality of their situation. It isn’t just about the nutritional impact. It’s the mental, physical, and emotional toll it can have on individuals. 

Access to affordable, nutritious foods is an important part of preventative healthcare. When healthier choices are consistently out of reach, public health messaging around “balanced diets” and “making better choices” risks missing the structural barriers many people face. The reality is that choice is shaped by affordability, availability and environment.

Rethinking food policy and health inequality

If what we eat is a fundamental building block for our health, then access to nutritious food needs to be more equitable and affordable. For many campaigners, a Good Food Bill represents not just policy reform, but a recognition that diet-related ill health and food poverty are systemic issues – and require systemic solutions. Ensuring that healthy food is accessible to all is not only a public health priority, but is a necessary step towards tackling long-standing health inequalities in the UK linked to diet and income.

Food sits at the centre of our health, our homes and our communities. As the conversation around the Good Food Bill continues, many will be watching closely – hopeful that one day, filling a basket with nourishing food won’t require compromise, calculation or sacrifice.