108 UK health experts call on government to safeguard children’s nutrition

12 Oct 2020 --- Over 100 experts have signed Sustain’s open letter calling on the UK government to ensure that children can access healthy and nutritious food. The letter details five policy measures to be included in the government’s impending Comprehensive Spending Review.

“COVID-19 has shone a light on the impact of long-term inequalities in health. We urge the government to take action now to ensure that children and families have access to good food. This is a key foundation for good health and well-being and as such an essential part of getting a good start in life,” says Andrea Fallon, director of public health for Rochdale Council.

The policy measures are: 

• Invest Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) income spend on children’s health via a healthy food investment fund.
• Expand the School Fruit & Vegetable Scheme to all 4.7 million children aged five to 11, sourcing high standard produce from UK farmers.
• Increase the value of the Healthy Start Vouchers to £4.25 (US$5.54) and extend to all pregnant women and families with children under the age of four on Universal Credit.
• Expand free school meals to all children and young people whose families are on Universal Credit or equivalent benefits, regardless of immigration status.
• Extend school holiday activity and food provision to all children in receipt of free school meals in England.

Attracting a range of supporters
Among the 108 supporters are elected mayors and food partnerships, as well as 29 directors of public health – many of whom are from the cities and regions experiencing some of the worst rates of child poverty. 

“Local leaders have spoken, and children’s food access needs to be a front and center priority for policymakers,” says Vera Zakharov, sustainable food places local action coordinator at Sustain.

“Government has a unique opportunity this year to show leadership on safeguarding the health and well-being of the next generation by championing fiscal policies that provide a nutritional safety net to some of the most vulnerable children and families. We are urging ministers to spend public money wisely by investing in children’s health,” she adds. 

The letter addresses Rishi Sunak, Gavin Williamson and Matt Hancock, who are all members of parliament (MPs). Their remits on the UK’s budget, school policy and health policy, respectively, give them the ultimate authority to enact these measures.Sustain is calling for its five points to be included in the UK government’s Comprehensive Spending Review.

Ring-fencing SDIL income
Sustain believes schools need to see an expansion of children’s food programs and sugar tax investment now so that they can continue to support their local communities. 

The charity, which led campaigns for the original SDIL, fears schools could be missing out on thousands of pounds meant to be ring-fenced.

In 2018/19 the Department for Education offered a one-year Healthy Pupils Capital Fund to help schools invest in projects benefiting children’s health, using money raised from the tax. 

However, the income has not been available for schools since. Current SDIL income projections are set at £340 million (US$443 million).

Last week, a Public Health England report revealed that SDIL-regulated products have seen a 44 percent reduction in sugar content per 100 ml between 2015 and 2019.

In contrast, products part of voluntary sugar reduction goals saw a drop of just 3 percent on average. As a result, Sustain has been calling for firmer regulation to be rolled out across F&B categories. 

The impact of COVID-19
According to Sustain, COVID-19 has exposed the levels of food insecurity and health inequalities in the UK, with children and families disproportionately affected. Child nutrition has been a major concern throughout the pandemic, both within the UK and the US. 

In July, the annual State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report also revealed that COVID-19 is pushing the world “off-track” to achieve a zero-hunger goal by 2030. 

Within the UK, Food Foundation research has found that 14 percent of adults living with children reported experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity in the last six months. Over 2 million children live in these households. Sustain also points to studies showing that four in five children are not meeting their five-a-day.

Edited by Katherine Durrell